MEMORY OF PIANO PERFORMANCE AND TEACHING IN VARGINHA/MG
Piano, Music History, Varginha, Music Teaching, Music Performance.
This dissertation examines the history of piano practice and teaching in Varginha, MG, with a particular focus on the period between 1901 and 1987. The objective is to identify and analyze relevant documents and reports on piano practice, and to present a comprehensive overview of the city's musical evolution. The methodology employed encompasses a review of pertinent documents, including books, newspapers, recital programs, photographs, and other materials, in conjunction with semi-structured interviews. The initial chapter provides a contextual framework for the practice and teaching of the piano in Brazil, elucidating the transformations and trends that have shaped the national pianistic tradition. The second chapter is devoted to an examination of the local piano scene in Varginha. It profiles a number of significant figures, including Marceliano Braga and Cecílio Fernández, who were prominent musicians and educators, as well as the poet and musicologist Oneyda Alvarenga and the pianist Adrienne Diniz Vallim. It also discusses their students and other notable individuals associated with the piano in Varginha. The third chapter presents an analysis of the institutions, spaces, and events that were instrumental in promoting piano culture in the city. These include the Lorenzo Fernândez Music Academy and the Maestro Marciliano Braga State Conservatory, as well as the Capitólio Theater and others. This historiographical research demonstrates the pivotal roles played by the individuals, institutions, and spaces examined in shaping the evolution of piano traditions in Varginha.