Voz, música, performance. El caso de Eduardo Darnauchans en la música popular uruguaya

Abstract

The creation processes of Eduardo Darnauchans, one of the most prominent performers of Uruguayan popular music in the last quarter of the twentieth century, are hereby analyzed on the basis of editorial critique and research work carried out regarding the work of this musician. The analysis revolves around the lyric-music relation in Darnauchans’ creations, as well as the particular gestural aspect of his performances, focusing especially on his melismatic work – an exception in Uruguayan popular singing – and evolution of creative processes. The study also includes the relations between the musician and Uruguayan poets, his musicalization of traditional figures, and the creation of his own lyrics and music. This paper also covers the mentor-disciple relation of Darnauchans with poet Washington Benavides, leader of the group known as “Grupo de Tacuarembó”, and the main influences on Darnauchans as a creator and performer. Such influences include: Medieval poetry and music, Elizabethan productions, folk and country from Scotland and the U.S., the French chanson, Bob Dylan, Branduardi, the Tropicalia movement, music from the Uruguayan-Brazilian border, The Beatles, the Argentinean folklore ensembles from the 1960s, and Latin American academic poets.