Experimenta-sons e (des)construções : a Quartabê

Abstract

The present research consists of a case study about Quartabê, a Brazilian popular instrumental band. The band was created in 2014 by Ana Karina Sebastião (electric bass), Joana Queiroz (clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone), Maria Beraldo Bastos (clarinet and bass clarinet), Mariá Portugal (drums) and Rafael Montorfano "Chicão" (keyboards) with the aim of interpreting (meaning "deconstructing") works by renowned composers of Brazilian popular music, beginning with the lessons of Professor Moacir Santos (1926-2006). The difference is that Quartabê does not just re-read this renowned composer, but rather gives a new look to the works, mixing several musical elements of other influences, such as rock, free jazz and electronic music, for example. In addition, mostly women compose the band and they present with costumes and hair very different from those traditionally found in the MPIB, thus indicating an openness and creativity of the band. In the light of ethnomusicology and studies on women, feminism, gender and music, the objective of this research is to perform a dialogical and performative analysis of Quartabê, from a feminist ethnomusicological perspective, visibilizing mainly the production and feminine performance as multi-artists: interpreters, instrumentalists, singers, composers, arrangers, improvisers, performers. From a qualitative and exploratory approach, the research is supported by performance ethnography to describe the data obtained in the field research, especially the interview conducted with the band. These data are confronted with theories and concepts, having as main references Lucy Green (2001), Isabel Nogueira (2015) and Laila Rosa (2009,2010). Thus, the work deals with the trajectory of Quartabê, including their compositional process and their classification according to musical and social contexts. It presents a musical analysis of four songs that are part of two phonographic records of the band: CD Lesson # 1: Moacir, and an EP called Depê, both over the works of Moacir Santos. This work also does a performance analysis, reflecting on elements that point to the construction of the Quartabê's own identity and that shows how the musical and social aspects of this construction are expressed through their performances.