Teresa Melo Campos: Portuguese Polyphonic Singing

In Portugal, especially in the center and north of the country, there exists an ancient and vibrant tradition of female collective singing, typically composed for three or more voices. This singing, passed down orally from mothers to daughters and from grandmothers to granddaughters, continues to bring people together and by constant change and adaption to explore new paths. 

This seminar offers a practical journey through the various contexts and themes of traditional Portuguese singing: the timbre and its vibrations, the poetics, its dual meanings, and the importance of the collective. The aim is to showcase the repertoires of songs and key figures along the way, sharing the writing and composition tools that Teresa has been gathering in her “notebooks.” 

The work will primarily involve group activities, and amidst the singing and the generous, shared listening, time will fly by. Students attending this seminar should bring a notebook for taking notes.

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