Seminar in Ethnomusicology and Sound Studies: Rita Medeiros and Dr Heloisa Feichas (Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Free to attend, no registration required.
In this lecture-recital, Heloisa Feichas and Rita Medeiros will present an overview of the rich legacy of Brazilian popular songs. In a journey through sinuous melodic lines and complex harmonies, supported by the strength of rythms in genres such as samba, frevo, and choro, the songs reveal colorful sounds and evoke landscapes and scenes from Brazilian life. The recital features icons such as Noel Rosa, Tom Jobim, Edu Lobo, Chico Buarque, Dori Caymmi, Jonny Alf, Guinga, Francis Hime and Gilberto Gil, who will be represented in this panorama in a unique and very rich blend between poetry and music.
Heloisa Feichas: PhD in Music Education from IoE/UCL, London, pianist and associate professor at Music School of Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. My research interests are in the field of sociology of music education and popular music education, always searching for innovative ways to include popular music into higher music education curricula and for developing pedagogies based on creative and collaborative practices. I have been working in partnership with musicians and teachers from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. As a pianist, I have performed in several ensembles, especially those specialising in Brazilian popular music. Recently I have focused on my collaboration with the singer Rita Medeiros, performing Brazilian popular songs.
Rita Medeiros, Brazilian singer with an established career in classical singing and jazz repertoire, started as a soloist in the renowned Choir Ars Nova, performing in Brazil and overseas. She played important roles in operas such as “The Barber of Seville” (Rossini) as Rosina; “Nabucco” (Verdi) as Fenena; “Carmen” (Bizet) as Carmen and “Fedra and Hipolito” (Christopher Park) as Fedra, among others. She sang as the girl in the jazz trio in “Trouble in Tahiti”, by Leonard Bernstein, at the Sala Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, with the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra. In the jazz repertoire, she performed in the Palácio das Artes Big Band on many occasions, including as the soloist in Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerto. Recently Rita started a new journey into Brazilian popular songs, with the pianist Heloisa Feichas.
About the series:
The Seminar in Ethnomusicology and Sound Studies is convened by Professor Jason Stanyek of the University of Oxford. Former convenors of the series were Professor Martin Stokes (currently at King’s College London) and Professor Noel Lobley (currently at the University of Virginia). Featuring lectures by leading scholars who have adventurous takes on musical and sonic cultures, the series has a particular grounding in anthropology, sound studies, and ethnomusicology. We typically hold two or three seminars each academic term. Our standard meeting time is on Thursdays at 5pm and events usually take place at or near St John’s College. Our seminars are open to all and admission is free. There is a wine reception after each talk. If you have any questions about the series please contact Professor Stanyek.
