ACOUSTIC CARTOGRAPHIES FOR A LUSITANIAN FANTASY: SYMBOLIC RECONFIGURATIONS OF GIL VICENTE’S AUTO DA BARCA DO INFERNO FOLLOWING MADREDEUS’ MUSIC PROPOSAL

This essay analyzes the theatrical drama Auto da Barca do Inferno by Portuguese playwright and musician Gil Vicente (1465-1536?) in light of the acoustic-literary theme of the song “O Pastor”, written by the also Portuguese music band Madredeus (1985-). With emphasis on the analysis of pastoral figure, the double allegory of the drama’s plot, the ambiguity of song’s tonalities, and the tireless recurrence to a third poetic imaginary presented to the reader-listener in the shape of a boat, it will try to show how the song questions the rigid parapet established by the dogmatic and imperialist Manichaeism of the Vincentian drama.