A construção da sonoridade coral na perspetiva da performance musical

: aspetos formadores da sonoridade do coro da Academia de Música de Viana do Castelo : Vianavocale

Abstract

This thesis addresses the theme of building choral sound from a performance perspective based on a reflection of teaching practices at the Academy of Music in Viana do Castelo and on the formative aspects in creating the choral sound of the choir VianaVocale. The aim is to provide an account of the choir’s musical career and development with regard to aspects related to performance, pedagogy and to interpretation. The methodological procedures take into account the basic principles of vocal production in classical singing and the fundamental elements of choral sound. The case study involves an observation and analysis of the academic disciplinary activities of the group, as well as of the preparatory technical exercises, teaching strategies and vocal practices employed. The recording of the First Christmas Cantata by Fernando Lopes-Graça, dated 2013, produced by the choir VianaVocale, presents itself as evidence and as a methodological strategy for studying choral sound. In this sense, and because there are only three full recordings of this work, semi-structured interviews intended to be held with the choral conductors Paulo Brandão, Jorge Alves and Mário Mateus, in order to correlate the technical and interpretative aspects taken into consideration for the recording, and that can serve as indicators for instruction these works in the context of teaching / learning. This study has been a complex and continuous building process of diverse elements and features like voice and musicality amongst other concepts, shaped and readjusted by the choir conductor.

Date of Award	11 May 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ana Sofia Almeida Sá Serra Dawa (Supervisor)