Saudade, Manhã, Tristesse de la Lune e La Cloche Fêlée: edição, análise interpretativa e subsídios para performance de 4 canções de Ernani Braga

Abstract

This study contributes to the revival of four songs by the Brazilian composer Ernani Braga (1888– 1948): Saudade, Manhã, Tristesse de la Lune, and La Cloche Fêlée. The scores of these works are part of the digital archive of Hermelindo Castello Branco (1922–1996), made available by the Instituto Piano Brasileiro (IPB). Braga, widely recognized for his harmonizations of Brazilian folk music—several of which achieved international acclaim—belongs to the second generation of nationalist composers in Brazil. In addition to his renowned cycle of northeastern Brazilian songs, he composed art songs with texts by significant Brazilian and international poets, including Charles Baudelaire. Despite their evident artistic merit, many of these songs have remained largely unknown. With the aim of recovering and encouraging the performance of this repertoire, this research employs a historical musicological approach, including bibliographic survey, literature review, and archival research on the composer. The study culminates in an interpretive performance-oriented analysis of the four selected songs. Moreover, the research is inherently practical in nature, involving the transcription and editing of the original scores, as well as the creation of transposed versions. These modern editions are designed to accommodate a range of vocal tessituras and facilitate broader access to the repertoire. Finally, the study offers an interpretive analysis of the works, focusing on providing performance insights that may assist singers and pianists interested in exploring Braga’s lesser-known art songs.