Consonants and dissonants

a brief investigation of choral practices in the tropicalist work of Caetano Veloso

Abstract

In Caetano Veloso's work, the presence of choral practices is certainly substantial. From his early albums to the most recent ones, it is possible to observe the existence not only of a uniform chorus, so to speak, but also of different types of choruses, which are tied, according to our premise, to three modalities: (i) the consonant chorus, when the crowd sings together and in tune; (ii) the dissonant chorus, when there is a polyphonic chaos in which the voices do not align and enter into a sort of conflict; (iii) the hybrid chorus, when there is, in the same song, a double character, all due to the presence of a consonant chorus and a dissonant chorus. Diving into the songwriter's career, we selected some representative works of the theme, songs from different moments and albums, always supporting us in varied critical and theoretical discussions, with the aim of outlining a new analysis and a new hypothesis about one of the most recognized intellectuals in the history of Brazilian song.