Untitled Image (Musicians in Brazil)

This image shows a street scene with musicians playing drums and various woodwind and brass instruments. According to Ewbank, "forty days after Lent, the most popular of Brazilian festivals takes place - that of the Holy Ghost. . . Each [church] has sent out a band of collectors, who for five weeks will canvass and recanvass the city, surburbs, and surrounding country. . . Musicians always attend them, commonly negroes" (p. 251). Thomas Ewbank (1792–1870) was an English writer on practical mechanics. In 1845–1846, he travelled to Brazil and on his return published an account of his travels. He was then appointed United States Commissioner of Patents by President Taylor in 1849.

Image Title

Untitled Image (Musicians in Brazil)

RegID

SI-OB-1051

Date

1846

Title

Untitled Image (Musicians in Brazil)

Source

Thomas Ewbank, Life in Brazil (New York, 1856), p. 251. Copy in Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library.

Language

English

Item sets

Music, Dance & Recreational Activities

Spatial Coverage

South America--Brazil

Reproduced In

Thomas Ewbank, Life in Brazil (New York, 1856), p. 251.

Researchers

Jerome Handler; Michael Tuite; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May

Identifier

ewbank1