Viola’s journey from rural roots to city stages
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Across centuries, people in Brazil have played the viola, starting with Jesuit missionaries and continuing with iconic musicians like Gusttavo Lima.
Introduced in the 16th century, the instrument first aided in the religious instruction of Indigenous populations and then became central to celebrations in emerging towns. It traveled with bandeirantes (explorers) and muleteers into the Brazilian interior, solidifying its place as a symbol of rural identity.
Luiz Antonio Guerra, a sociologist and musician at the Federal University of Goiás, recently published Uma sociologia da viola caipira (A Sociology of the Caipira Viola), detailing the instrument’s history. Guerra’s research shows the viola adapted as people migrated from rural areas to cities throughout the 20th century, carrying their traditions with them. While originally a staple of rural life, the viola found new audiences in urban performance spaces, universities, and contemporary festivals.
Guerra interviewed over 60 viola players, discovering they maintain traditional techniques while also blending with genres like MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) and rock. Even contemporary sertanejo (a popular genre of Brazilian country music) artists, like Gusttavo Lima, acknowledge the viola as the foundation of their musical training, occasionally featuring it in live performances. The viola continues to evolve, acting as a bridge between rural and urban cultures, tradition and innovation.
