Biography
Jaildo Gurgel da Costa is an ethnomusicologist and a music teacher; he is a researcher at INET-md and a Ph.D. candidate in Musical Sciences - Ethnomusicology at FCSH/Nova de Lisboa, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Rui Cidra, and is investigating how a series of phenomena related to globalization (cultural flows, the music industry, world music) are affecting the musical practice of the pífanos from the Agreste region of Pernambuco, Brazil; he has a master's degree in Ethnomusicology from the Federal University of Paraíba - UFPB, Brazil, under the supervision of professor Dr. Carlos Sandroni, with a study on the musical practices of the Cosme Family and the Coco de Zambê of Rio Grande do Norte - BR; he has a bachelor's degree in Erudite Percussion from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN, Brazil. He is a professor and researcher on the Music Degree course at the Federal Institute of Pernambuco, Brazil.
Doctoral Project
Title
The social and musical dynamics of pífanos bands from Agreste of Pernambuco: global cultural flows and heritage processes
Advisor
Rui Cidra
Abstract
In Brazil, the presence of the pífano (a type of European-influenced transverse flute) dates back to the period of Portuguese colonization. This instrument was first used by soldiers and Jesuits, and later by groups from the casas-grandes and music bands in general. Currently, in the Agreste region of Pernambuco, pife musicians and their music form part of popular festivals (both religious and secular, in rural and urban areas), play for tourists in the Feira de Caruaru, and are occasionally featured in different media contexts – albeit in a recurrently timid and precarious manner. This research seeks to understand how a set of phenomena linked to globalization – namely, processes of migration, urbanization of the practice, contact with the cultural music industry, and public policies (especially those related to heritagization) – have catalyzed social and musical change for the pífanos and have affected their expressive practice. In order to answer these questions, this work uses bibliographical and documentary research, ethnographies, as well as interviews; it aims to reflect on the journeys of the pifeiros, the musical and status changes that have affected them, and the way in which these active musicians view their productions as a vital force in their daily lives.
Keywords: Pífanos from Agreste of Pernambuco; Globalization; Migration processes; Music industry.
Funding: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (PD/BD/150599/2020)
