Folia De Reis, a Brazilian Spiritual Journey Through Song Welson Alves Tremura
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2004 With an Open Heart: Folia De Reis, a Brazilian Spiritual Journey Through Song Welson Alves Tremura Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC WITH AN OPEN HEART: FOLIA DE REIS, A BRAZILIAN SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH SONG By WELSON ALVES TREMURA A Dissertation submitted to the School of Music in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2004 Copyright 2004 Welson Alves Tremura All Rights Reserved The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Welson Alves Tremura defended on April 5, 2004. _____________________________ Dale A. Olsen Professor Directing Dissertation _____________________________ Anthony Oliver-Smith Outside Committee Member _____________________________ Michael B. Bakan Committee Member _____________________________ Larry Crook Committee Member The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii The folia de reis high-pitched voices singing in the distance are memories of a childhood of music and celebrations that go back to the early 1970s when playing soccer in a field not larger than a basketball court or flying a kite were the highest point of most children in that part of Brazil. The folia groups could be heard in the distance with the tala or high pitch voice singing the last part of the refrain. These sounds could typically be heard echoing throughout the surrounding neighborhoods of Olímpia, São Paulo during the second half of the month of December and early part of January. The folia de reis, named Miranda, from the neighborhood of São José, has a critical linkage to my father, Nelson Tremura, and his work in Olímpia. My study of folia de reis is in homage to him and his relationship with the tradition. During my early childhood from 1962 to 1972, he was the Principal in the local Public School “Grupo Escolar da Vila São José.” His position gained him many friends in the neighborhood. Nelson was a fine violin player and was often invited to perform with the community. Also, through his music he met most of the members of the folia de reis groups and eventually was asked to participate in the tradition. His playing was claimed to be sweet and harmonious and he often performed during the journeys of the folia de reis Miranda. Also, in 1967, the group recorded in a professional studio and released a record on the Chanteclair label (listen to audio tracks four and five on the accompanying compact disc to hear the folia de reis Miranda’s 1967 recordings). My work with the folia de reis groups in Olímpia is part of my life experience and memories of childhood that became the center of my own curiosity throughout my years of graduate school. My father’s personal involvement with the folia de reis Miranda contributed to my own curiosity in the tradition. He is my inspiration and the light behind my thoughts. To him I dedicate this dissertation. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are so many people that I would like to recognize in this study that it would be impossible to list all of them. Above all, I thank my mother, Aurora, and my father, Nelson. I will always remember my father’s figure, and his light still shines upon my thoughts and feelings. My wife Renata is my source of energy and through her and my beautiful children Donovan, Heitor, Rodrigo, and my newborn Thiago, I will continue the journey of faith in the history of the Magi. The people listed below have made my study a reality and supported the idea that music is a spectacular vehicle of communication between humans and the “divine.” I have included those people that I directly worked with during fieldwork and through the process of writing this dissertation. Now all of them are part of my experience, and for this reason, they are also part of my knowledge. I will never forget the real meaning of Christmas after spending from Christmas Eve through Christmas day in 1996 next to a nativity scene adoring and admiring the true creators of the folia de reis tradition. I am enlightened from the experience learned from all participants in the tradition. Each one of you is unique and special in what you practice and believe. A special mention must be given to Professor José Sant’anna, a man that inspires the folia tradition himself. He was the founder of the “Festival do Folclore” in the city of Olímpia, São Paulo and was the heart behind all folk celebrations in that region. After more than thirty-three yearly festivals, Sant’anna carried the same enthusiasm and love for Brazil’s folk celebrations. Unfortunately in 1999 due to heart failure and other complications, he is we now next to God, the creator, re-affirming the faith and belief in the Three Kings. Thank you Professor Sant’anna. Thank you Companhia de Reis Miranda: Márcio Reis Carvalho, Antônio Aparecido de Miranda, Jesus Francisco de Miranda, Luiz de Miranda, Maria Jesus de Miranda, and Luiz Batista de Carvalho Sobrinho; from the community, Professora Iseh iv Bueno de Camargo and Professor Rothschild Mathias Netto; from Companhia de Reis Magos do Oriente: Pacífico de Souza e Silva and José Francisco Ferreira; from Companhia de Reis Fernandes: Celso Fernandes, Nilson Fernandes, Sebastião Hostalio Togneri, Mario Lúcio Togneri, Paulo Togneri, Rubens José de Carvalho, José Nunes, Preto Vicento, Osório Batista Rodriguez, Afonso Rodriguez, Ricardo Fernandes Nardelli, and Andreto Ceolin; from Folia de reis Estrela da Redenção: Adelício Paula dos Santos, Lourival Correa, Indomar dos Santos, Narciso Pedro dos Santos, Vanderlei Cristovão Machado, Rubens Correa, Osvaldo da Silva, Milton Gonçalves Marques, and Nilson Primo dos Santos; and thank you mestre Joaquim Moreira da Silva. Thank you my dear professor Dr. Dale Olsen who has patiently mentored and guided me in the dissertation process, enabling me to progress and succeed with my writing in the English language. Thank you to Dr. Michael Bakan whose guidance has been so helpful. Thank you my colleague and friend Dr. Larry Crook who understands this process and has always been supportive. Also thank you my friend and colleague Dr. Martha Ellen Davis, an incredible mind and superior advisor. Your ideas and suggestions enhanced my knowledge, and your guidance helping to organize this dissertation made my work a true reflection of my thoughts. Thank you April Burk; as an editor you have given me a different perspective of how folia de reis texts should be translated. Also, Dr. Eric Kramer and Dr. Anthony Oliver-Smith, your anthropological approaches of tradition and ideas about ritual were great assets and inspiration. Thank you Kea Herron for your great suggestions and for reading my draft. The tradition of the Three Kings continues to be the source of inspiration to many families and neighborhoods throughout Brazil. My gratitude to these carriers of the folia de reis tradition in their effort to continue the search for more and deeper understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. Human faith and song are the authentic vehicles of communication between humans and the divine. Perhaps through this relationship mankind and the divine are finding equilibrium and the true purpose of the birth of Jesus will be fulfilled. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ xii LIST OF SONG TEXTS.................................................................................................. xiii ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1 Research Objectives......................................................................................................3 Methodology..........................................................................................................4 Folia de Reis Literature Survey.............................................................................6 Importance of this Study .......................................................................................8 2 DEFINITION OF FOLIA DE REIS AND HISTORY OF THE MAGI CULT.........11 The Folia ....................................................................................................................12 The Reis—also Called Magi.......................................................................................14 The West Asian Origin of the Magi ...........................................................................15 The Magi According to Christianity...........................................................................17 The Magi in European Iconography...........................................................................20 The Magi in Other Performance Contexts: The Autos Sacramentales.......................38 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................39 3 FOLIA DE REIS IN BRAZIL: FOLK INTERPRETATIONS FROM RURAL OLÍMPIA....................................................................................................................41