Abstract
This article aims to study the subject of blindness and music during the Baroque period in Portugal. Several artistic representations in ceramic tiles and clay sculptures (specifically nativity figures) prove the existence of blind musicians in Portuguese society during this time. This article analyzes the musical iconography of these sources to understand the contexts of representation and to ascertain the social function of these blind musicians. This analysis also sheds light on their lives as members of an itinerant group, which was guided by a young boy and accompanied by a small dog that both protected it and participated in its musical performance by performing tricks to the music. Finally, the musical instruments associated with this group will also be analyzed in this article.
| Original language | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 7-29 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Cuadernos de Iconografia Musical |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- Blindness
- Music
- Musical Iconography
- Baroque
- Portugal