Abstract:
The purpose of this project is to understand a phenomenon of community music, deeply rooted in popular tradition, epistemologically framed by ethnomusicology, sociology, and education – the grupos de bombos (bass drum groups). The term bombo is used to refer to a large, double-headed percussion instrument found throughout Portugal, particularly prevalent in the northern regions. A grupo de bombos is an instrumental ensemble that includes other double-headed percussion instruments, snare drums (caixas de rufo), and sometimes concertinas, accordions, and bagpipes. These groups perform at pilgrimages and popular festivals, where they enjoy immense popularity. According to a survey conducted by Rui Júnior in his Tocárufar project, there are more than 350 registered bombos groups listed at https://www.tocarufar.com/pt/Bombos-de-Portugal. Many of these groups also exist within Portuguese communities across the world.
It was precisely the observation of such groups performing at one of the largest pilgrimages in Portugal that sparked the questions this project seeks to answer: What are their origins and development? How is knowledge learned and transmitted? What kind of hierarchy and leadership structures exist? How have they been sustained or evolved over time? How are they represented within their communities? How are gender issues managed?
Through a multi-method approach, strongly anchored in ethnography and immersive fieldwork, the project will employ participant observation in situ, semi-structured and unstructured interviews with performers and festival organizers, as well as multimedia recordings of rehearsals and performances.
Team:
Rui Bessa (Principal Investigator); Rui Ferreira; José António Neves
Keywords:
Bombos; community music