The Brazilian Pantanal as an Ecomusicsystem

Abstract

The Pantanal is a large and biodiverse seasonally pulsing wetland area in South America. Two elements of the musical culture of the Brazilian area of this ecoregion are the orally and mimetically transmitted music genres cururu and siriri. This article argues that these musical genres are embedded in the physical environment of the regional ecosystem and, through the use of qualitative field research, verifies the hypothesis that the wetland ecosystem of the Brazilian Pantanal and the holistic music system of the cururu and the siriri create a common network which can be described as an ecomusicosystem. The analysis demonstrates that the ecosystem and the music culture reciprocally shape each other. By understanding both ecosystem and music culture as heritage worthy of protection and safeguarding, the article suggests that the Pantanal ecomusicosystem constitutes a common, shared natural musical heritage. Finally, it concludes that both the environmentally and culturally sustainable development of the Brazilian Pantanal are of mutual importance for the safeguarding of the ecomusicosystem.