Jalapão Sounds Project revitalizes cultural heritage in Tocantins

In the far east of Tocantins, in the exuberant Jalapão region, the small municipality of Mateiros has been the stage for a transformative musical project promoted by the Viva Música Association, sponsored by Energisa. O Sounds of the Jalapão seeks to revitalize and preserve the rich musical tradition of the region, especially the use of typical instruments such as the rabeca and the violinha de buriti.

The Jalapão is known for its exuberant landscape, with golden dunes up to 30 meters high, crystal-clear rivers, plateaus and multi-colored rock formations. Sometimes nicknamed the "desert of waters", the Jalapão is endowed with a peculiar biome, between the cerrado and the caatinga, and is home to plant species such as the golden grass and the buriti palm.

In the hands of the artisans of Mateiros, golden grass is transformed into hats, baskets and jewelryThe buriti palm, in turn, is transformed into violinhas and rabecas, musical instruments that are always present in the festivals and cultural celebrations of Tocantins.

However, this rich musical tradition is in danger of being lost. Time has taken many of the masters who once made and played these instruments. This is where the Sounds of the Jalapão enters the scene. The project seeks not only to preserve the techniques of handcrafted construction and tuning of the instruments, but also to reintroduce these sounds and rhythms to new generations.

These traditional instruments have spread throughout the country, but they are from Tocantins. What's sad is that there are hardly any viola and rabeca players left here. We want this tradition to continue," says conductor Bruno Barreto.

Bruno is one of the founders and current director of the Viva Música association. Created in 2014 as a string orchestra, the association has been reinventing and creating spaces for music in Tocantins. In the project Sounds of the Jalapãoproject, 40 students are learning to play buriti guitars, rabecas and various percussion instruments, as a way of passing on traditional wisdom to new generations.

The violinha de buriti, invented in the 1940s in Jalapão itself, has a soft, full-bodied but delicate sound. The instrument is hand-carved from the core of buriti wood, with no top or bottom. The rabeca is an instrument that resembles a small violin and dates back to colonial times. Brought by the Portuguese, it was gradually adapted by local populations, including indigenous communities, quilombolas and sertanejas, who began to use buriti for its construction.

Today, these instruments are part of Tocantins' cultural identity and that's why it's so important to preserve the knowledge about them, both in terms of their handmade construction and the unique way they are tuned and played. The memories of the musicians and of Tocantins echo through the sounds of the buriti.

The classes, which began in August, are being held in local schools, involving children and teenagers in musical practice. At the end of the school term, there will be a didactic presentation in the Mumbuca quilombola community, marking the end of this first cycle. The project also includes mini-courses for the local population and tourists, which will take place during the Harvest Festival, an important regional event in September.

O Sounds of the Jalapão is the Viva Música Association's fourth project. Before it, the Corners and corners of Tocantinsalso sponsored by Energisa, has taken orchestral concerts with a varied repertoire to various cities in the interior of the state. Conductor Bruno Barreto highlights the importance of the partnership with Energisa:

These projects bring together our thoughts and Energisa's, valuing regional culture and the music professionals here in Tocantins. Our meeting with Energisa was transformative, not only because of the financial support, but also because of the doors it opened for us. We had no experience in incentive law projects and Energisa, with great patience and professionalism, guided us along this path. We thank Energisa very much for all this and I hope this partnership continues," said Bruno Barreto.

The project is part of the Energisa Cultural Program. With a multi-lingual profile, covering music, literature, audiovisual, visual arts, performing arts, popular culture and festivals, among others, and with a commitment to bringing us closer to society through cultural actions and the manifestation of regional values in the territories where we operate, Energisa Cultural in 2023 impacted more than 280,000 people in the company's area of operation.