Folk music and melody in the 1.ª Suite Alentejana (1919) by Luiz de Freitas Branco

Abstract

A distinctive and very particular work by Luiz de Freitas Branco (1890–1955), the 1.ª Suite Alentejana (1919) presents a less usual aspect of the composer's language – the evocation of folk elements from his region of choice, the Alentejo. Practically an aside in his musical output, the Suite nevertheless reflects a versatility in the aesthetic dimension of his language, simultaneously revealing his rational and universalistic sides, someone who has resorted to the means necessary to achieve a certain end. Although various authors recognise a folk element in the 1.ª Suite Alentejana, this aspect has yet to be explored in greater depth, on the basis of a more detailed study of the musical writing adopted by the composer. The aim of this article is to present an analysis of the score, focused on the different types of melodies and textures used, in order to identify and better understand how the composer incorporates folk melodies in the work’s musical discourse.