CROSSING OCEANS AND HEMISPHERES: A MUSICAL EXPLORATION OF IMMIGRATION AND MAKING NEW HOMES

Abstract

The immigration story of the author’s family, as well as that of similar families is represented in three dissertation recitals. These recitals consist each of music by European composers, Brazilian composers, and American composers. National styles, overarching story, and thematic material are taken into consideration and explored. Reasons to leave Europe, as seen in large waves of German and Italian immigration to Brazil in the 19th Century, approaches of Brazilian composers to find a national voice through usage of popular and folk forms in their work, and exploration of what the United States promises to those seeking a better life—in addition to a representation of various experiences had here — are addressed. Themes of love, loss, opportunity, and identity of self are omnipresent in these performances.