Waldemar Henrique and Gentil Puget: Amazonian “Folk-lore” and musical modernism

Abstract

This text discusses the aspects related to the folklorist debate within the scope of Brazilian modernism and the regional aspects. In this case, the relationship between the conceptions of musical modernism developed by Mário de Andrade and Heitor Villa-Lobos and how they were present in an Amazonian perspective will be addressed. For this purpose, we will focus on the reflection and analysis of representations about the works of Pará artists Waldemar Henrique and Gentil Puget. The folkloric stylizations composed and popularized by these artists were important for representations about the Amazon. We cannot disregard the presence of Waldemar Henrique and Gentil Puget in media such as the radio, in presentations in different Brazilian states or in dialogue with other folklorists, who were revealed to be sources for their representations, or even informants. They were significant for the configuration of the imaginary about the Amazon and, consequently, about Brazil.