A unique Brazilian composer: A study of the music of Gilberto Mendes through selected piano pieces

Abstract

This study attempts to demonstrate the uniqueness of the work of Gilberto Mendes (b. 1922) in the panorama of twentieth-century Brazilian music, through an examination of selected piano pieces. Even though Mendes is mainly known through his choral works, pieces specifically meant for the piano appear throughout his career, allowing the tracing of his evolution as a composer as well as to detect common characteristics that define his style. The list of works chosen includes two Preludios (1945, 1949), four pieces from Pequeno Album para Criancas (1947-1951), Sonatina Mozartiana (1951), two Pecas para Piano (1957-1958), Musica para Pianono 1 (1962), Blirium C-9 (1965), Vento Noroeste (1982), Il neige ... de nouveau! (1985), Um Estudo? Eisler e Webern Caminham nos Mares do Sul ... (1989), and estudo extudo eis tudo pois (1997). Even though the time span of these works allowed for a fascinating development of Mendes' style towards maturity, the pieces chosen for this study share many common traits such as pervasive use of musical quotation, free manipulation of form, and use of intensive repetition. The freedom and flexibility utilized by the composer when combining these elements make him a unique figure among Brazilian contemporary composers.