Sounds of Borderlands: Music and Identity in the tri-border region of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina
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Abstract
This reflection paper explores the culminating experience project Music and Identity: Sounds of a Multicultural Life, a suite of original compositions inspired by the cultural hybridity of the triple border between Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Drawing on personal narrative, regional history, and global jazz idioms, the project examines themes of identity, memory, resilience, and social justice. Each composition reflects a specific aspect of life in the borderlands, ranging from the trauma of the War of the Triple Alliance to the everyday blending of languages, rhythms, and traditions. This paper discusses the project’s development, outcomes, and the creative revisions required throughout the process. It also outlines possible future directions, including interdisciplinary expansion and community engagement. Ultimately, the project contributes to contemporary music education by challenging dominant jazz paradigms and advocating for culturally grounded, inclusive artistic practices. The experience profoundly impacted the student, fostering artistic growth, intercultural fluency, and a renewed sense of purpose as a musician, educator, and storyteller.
Publication Date
7-1-2025
Campus
Boston Campus
Keywords
Global Jazz; cultural identity; triple border; Paraguayan music; Peteke-Peteke; Multicultural experience; Paraguay; Brazil; Argentina; music and memory; hybridity; Latin American music; musical storytelling; interdisciplinary composition; borderlands.
Recommended Citation
Ramírez Díaz, Ricardo. “Sounds of Borderlands: Music and Identity in the tri-border region of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.” Master's thesis, Berklee College of Music, 2025. https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-global-jazz/189.