Música e história: estudos em homenagem a Manuel Carlos de Brito

This volume aims to highlight the prominent position that Manuel Carlos de Brito has occupied in the field of music history, not only in Portugal, to whose musical past he dedicated most of his studies, but also internationally. As a musicologist, Manuel Carlos de Brito adopted as guiding principles scientific modernisation, a cosmopolitan perspective on research, and the defence of a ‘unified field of musicology where its various branches can collaborate, guided by what might be called an anthropological perspective on musical phenomena.’

His main field of research encompasses music from the 17th to 19th centuries, particularly the study of opera in Portugal during the 18th century. In retrospect, this approach to musical life in Portugal, which sets aside dogmatic prejudices and seeks innovative perspectives solidly grounded in documentation, constitutes one of Manuel Carlos de Brito’s greatest contributions to the discipline.

The Tabula gratulatoria in this volume testifies to his broad scope and privileged relationship with the Latin European world, also reflected in the contributions gathered in this book, written by musicologists from three successive generations, originating from Portugal, Brazil, Spain, England, France, and Italy.