Sounds Like 'Saudade': Eschatological Echoes in Brazilian 'Gospel' Music

Authors

Fernando Berwig Silva, Southern Methodist UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper analyzes the song “Saudade” by the Brazilian gospel singer Stella Laura. In the song, I argue that Stella Laura uses Brazilian timbral markers from the Sertanejo and Gospel Brazilian music genres to articulate a unique perspective on eschatology, one that is based on the affective structure of the Lusophone word ‘saudade.’ Furthermore, I contend that the song, rooted in the Brazilian nostalgic sertanejo music tradition, leans on stylistic and timbral tools to communicate the idea of saudade from heaven. Beyond lyrics that feature theological notions of origin, identity, and nostalgia, Stella Laura’s song employs timbral, poetic, and cultural strategies so listeners can connect notions of saudade to theological projects.

Author Biography

Fernando Berwig Silva is a Ph.D. student in Religion and Culture at Southern Methodist University and a Brazilian composer. A drummer since his teenage years, Fernando has earned his Master of Sacred Music (MSM) from Perkins School of Theology and also holds a bachelor’s degree in composition and has experience leading music in churches from diverse cultural backgrounds, after serving three years as Coordinator of Arts Ministries at a Lutheran church in Brazil. He has premiered compositions at the intersection of church and concert music in Europe, the United States, and Brazil. Currently, Fernando acts as a committee member for the Christian Congregational Music Conference that takes place biannually in Oxford, UK, and serves as Adjunct Faculty in Meadows School of the Arts (SMU). His research engages with church music, decolonial, and Latin American scholarship.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Berwig Silva, Fernando (2025) "Sounds Like 'Saudade': Eschatological Echoes in Brazilian 'Gospel' Music," Yale Journal of Music & Religion: Vol. 11: No. 1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17132/2377-231X.1293