A trajetória musical do quarteto de saxofones Ladário Teixeira: formação, repertório e atuação na era do rádio

Abstract

This study investigates the musical trajectory of the Ladário Teixeira Saxophone Quartet, an ensemble active in Pernambuco, Brazil, during the 1930s and 1940s, with the aim of understanding its instrumental formation, repertoire, and performance within the context of the Radio Era. The research is justified by the scarcity of studies dedicated to the group and by the need to expand knowledge about the history of the saxophone and musical practices in Pernambuco. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, exploratory, and historical-documentary study based on a literature review, documentary analysis, and semi-structured interviews. Historical newspapers, musical scores preserved in the collection of the Joaquim Nabuco Foundation, and testimonies from musicians and researchers familiar with the ensemble and its members were consulted. The results indicate that the quartet was composed of prominent saxophonists from the Pernambuco musical scene and maintained an intense artistic activity, particularly through its association with Rádio Clube de Pernambuco. The analysis of the sources also revealed the coexistence of works related to both popular and classical music within its repertoire, demonstrating the circulation between different musical practices during the period. It is concluded that the Ladário Teixeira Saxophone Quartet played a significant role in the dissemination of the saxophone and in Pernambuco’s musical life, contributing to the dialogue among repertoires, performance spaces, and forms of musical production. This study helps fill gaps in the historiography of Pernambuco music and points to possibilities for future investigations of similar instrumental ensembles.