LATE PORTUGUESE POLYPHONY: THE PROBLEM OF CONTINUITY IN THE SACRED WORK OF DIOGO DIAS MELGAZ AND PEDRO VAZ REGO
This page presents the research and materials produced during my PhD project at the University of Évora (2015-2022) focusing on the problematic of continuity in the sacred vocal music of the composers active at Évora Cathedral Diogo Dias Melgaz and Pedro Vaz Rego. It comprises participation in scientific events, published texts, and outreach activities, as well as other media resources, such as videos and music editions, produced during the period.
❧ Abstract
Évora Cathedral was one of the most important centres of musical activity in Portugal since the beginning of the 16th century until the first decades of the 19th century. There, a polyphonic practice was established in the 16th century that was continued in the 17th century. While for the first half of this century that continuity has been well studied, several gaps arise with respect to its practice during the second half of the 17th century. Departing from the musical work of two composers and chapel masters of Évora Cathedral – Diogo Dias Melgaz and Pedro Vaz Rego -, this thesis intends to contribute to a better understanding not only of the problematic of the polyphonic continuity in the musical work of these two composers, that coexists with a style markedly baroque, but also to a better understanding of the role and dimension that polyphony continued to have in the Cathedral’s musical activity during the second half of the 17th century.
❧ The Composers
Diogo Dias Melgaz was born in Cuba in 1638 and died in Évora in 1700. He entered the Évora Cathedral choirboys school around 1647 or 48 and stayed in the Cathedral’s music service until his death. He became the master of the Claustra in 1663 and was probably appointed as chapel master around 1678.
Pedro vaz Rego was born in Campo-maior in 1673 and died in Évora in 1736. He was Reitor of the choirboys school and, for some time, also accumulated the post of master of the Claustra. He became chapel master retaining this post until the 1730s when he retired from the post of master of the Claustra.
CONFERENCE PAPERS
PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
A Novena para a Festa de S. Joseph de Pedro Vaz Rego e a atividade musical na Catedral de Évora na primeira metade do século XVIII
II Historical Soundscape Meeting – Évora 2019
16-18 October, 2019
Colégio Mateus d’Aranda, University of Évora (Évora)
PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
A música na Catedral de Évora no limiar de setecentos: Aspetos de transição na obra de Diogo Dias Melgaz e Pedro Vaz Rego
IV Simposio Internacional Jóvenes Investigadores del Barroco Iberoamericano: Las orillas del Barroco
9-11 April, 2019
CeIBA, Complejo Cultural San Francisco, Cáceres
PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
Portuguese text insertions in early-eighteenth-century Latin musical works of Évora Cathedral
I Congreso Internacional de Musicología JAM: Conexión, divulgación y conocimiento
8-10 November, 2018
Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos Ciudad de Oviedo, Oviedo.
PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
The Circulation of Palestrinian Polyphony in the South of Portugal during the Eighteenth Century: The Repertories of Évora, Elvas and Vila Viçosa
Web of Knowledge: A look into the Past, embracing the Future
17-19 May, 2018
College of Espírito Santo, University of Évora, Évora
PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
Recordare, Virgo Mater: devoção musical mariana na Sé de Évora no século XVIII
Historical Soundscape Meeting Évora 2017 – City Soundscapes and Musical Patrimony
26-28 October, 2017
College Mateus d’Aranda, University of Évora, Évora
PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
Polyphony in Évora Cathedral in the Eighteenth Century: The Lenten Motets by Afonso Lobo
X Jornadas de Jóvenes Musicólogos y Estudiantes de Musicología: Musicologies d’ahir I de demà: musicologies d’avui
20-22 April 2017
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Barcelona)
PAPERS IN NATIONAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER-REVIEWING
Música vocal na Sé de Évora no século XVIII: A continuidade polifónica na música para a Semana Santa
Seminário “Música Sacra em Évora no Século XVIII”
16 February, 2017
Church of São Vicente, Évora
ACTIVITIES
GUIDED TOURS
Os Manuscritos Setecentistas do Arquivo Musical da Sé de Évora
Encontros com o Património
19 November, 2021
Évora Cathedral
OTHER TALKS NOT INCLUDED IN SYMPOSIA AND COLLOQUIA
O motete Memento homo de Diogo Dias Melgaz: uma perspetiva analítica
Conferências em Música e Musicologia do CESEM/UÉvora
31 October, 2018
Colégio Mateus d’Aranda, University of Évora (Évora)
OTHER TALKS NOT INCLUDED IN SYMPOSIA AND COLLOQUIA
Title
Conferências em Música e Musicologia do CESEM/UÉvora
21 March, 2018
Colégio Mateus d’Aranda, University of Évora (Évora)
OTHER TALKS NOT INCLUDED IN SYMPOSIA AND COLLOQUIA
Continuidade da prática de polifonia na Catedral de Évora no século XVIII
Jornadas Internacionais “Escola de Música da Sé de Évora”
5 October, 2017
Convento dos Remédios, Évora
PUBLICATIONS
BOOK CHAPTERS (National)
A Novena para a festa de S. Joseph de Pedro Vaz Rego : A sua integração na Catedral de Évora na primeira metade do século XVIII
Paisagens Sonoras Históricas: Anatomia dos Sons nas Cidades
Antónia Fialho Conde, Vanda de Sá, Rodrigo Teodoro de Paula (eds.)
Évora, Publicações do Cidehus, 2021.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Algumas notas sobre o motete Memento homo de Diogo Dias Melgaz
InComunidade
vol. 78, 2019
BOOK CHAPTERS (National)
Continuidade do repertório polifónico na Catedral de Évora no século XVIII
Escola de Música da Sé de Évora: Conferências
Eborae Musica (org.)
Évora: Edições Colibri, 2019, pp. 179-189
ARTICLES IN INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS WITH PEER-REVIEWING
Alguns aspetos de transformação musical na Catedral de Évora (Portugal) no Barroco: A produção musical de Pedro Vaz Rego nas primeiras décadas do século XVIII
Anuario de Historia Regional y de las Fronteras
vol. 24, n. 1 (2019), pp. 15-33.
BOOK CHAPTERS (National)
A antífona Recordare, Virgo Mater: Prática musical mariana na Sé de Évora no final do século XVII e século XVIII
Paisagens Sonoras Urbanas: História, Memória e Património
Vanda de Sá e Antónia Fialho Conde (eds.
Évora: Publicações do Cidehus, 2019, pp.261-279.
ARTICLES IN INTERNATIONAL JOURNALS WITH PEER-REVIEWING
A nova capela-mor setecentista da Catedral de Évora: Uma abordagem ao seu impacto na atividade musical de Pedro Vaz Rego e Ignácio António Celestino
Arte y Patrimonio
n. 3 (2018), pp. 77-92
This PhD project Polifonia portuguesa tardia: A problemática da continuidade na obra sacra de Diogo Dias Melgaz e Pedro Vaz Rego was funded by the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia with the reference SFRH/BD/131505/2017
