THE INTEGRATION OF THE FRENCH HORN INTO FORRÓ: TECHNICAL AND INTERPRETATIVE POSSIBILITIES
French Horn; Forró; Brazilian Popular Music; Performance Practice; Music Education; Instrumental Performance; Technical-Interpretative Aspects; Northeastern Music.
This dissertation investigates the possibilities of incorporating the French horn into forró music through the instrument’s technical and interpretative aspects as well as the stylistic characteristics of this Northeastern Brazilian genre. The research is based on the observation that horn teaching in Brazil remains strongly connected to the European classical repertoire, with limited exploration of Brazilian popular music practices, especially forró. The study aims to understand how the horn can interact with rhythmic, melodic, and interpretative elements found in baião, xote, and arrasta-pé, considering aspects such as articulation, phrasing, tone production, flexibility, and musical performance. The methodology follows a qualitative approach, including literature review, documentary research, and interviews with musicians involved in the forró scene, particularly the accordionist Zé Hilton. The findings indicate that the insertion of the horn into forró is both possible and musically relevant, provided that the performer deeply understands the stylistic language of the genre, especially regarding rhythmic groove, articulation, and collective interaction among instruments. The study concludes that the relationship between the horn and forró expands the pedagogical and interpretative possibilities of the instrument, contributing to a more contextualized, creative, and culturally connected musical education.