Caracterização do panorama coral infantil e juvenil do distrito de Lisboa no ano de 2017

Abstract

The present study describes the range of children’s and youth choirs in the municipalities of the district of Lisbon in 2017. The objectives of the study are: to identify extant children’s and youth choirs; to identify the municipalities with the greatest activity among children’s and youth choirs, describing their respective contexts; to describe the participants in each choir, including both singers and artistic directors; to describe the repertoire in use and activities carried out; to assess the importance of children’s and youth choirs in the life of local communities and in the promotion of culture within the country.

The methodology adopted is based on bibliographical and documental research and on using questionnaires sent to various kinds of informants (conductors, members of the choirs’ artistic committees, pedagogical directors in schools, municipalities and other informants), in person, by telephone or by e-mail.

The data collected permitted us to arrive at the following conclusions: there exists a total of 33 children’s and youth choirs in the Lisbon area; the municipality of Lisbon has the greatest number of choirs (30% of the total); choirs are mostly connected with associations (57% of the total); a large number of the choirs arose from 2005 onwards (63% of the total); most of the singers are between 6 and 12 years of age (66% of the total); amongst the singers females predominate (82% of the total); the task of artistic direction is carried out principally by women (61% of the total); repertoire is varied, including sacred and secular works, by Portuguese and European composers both accompanied and a cappella.

Choral activity is associated with an increasing interest in artistic activities. The description of choral activities in Portugal has been the object of musicological research. However, extant research is limited to adult choirs and choral societies, and there is as yet no study of the reality of choral singing during childhood and adolescence. Part of a research project in the field of vocal development and choral practice in childhood, this work is a starting point for the doctoral thesis of the first author.