Estefanía: trunnks and melodies of many women

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to analyze and make a musical recreation of Isabel Carvajal's story, “Estefanía” to represent scenes, moments and experiences that are shown in the text and above all to show and publicize the discrimination of women, both in the past as in the present. This text was chosen because it is a silenced work, little known in Costa Rican literature, despite being a pioneer in denouncing the lifestyle of women in the banana plantations of the Costa Rican Atlantic coast. A life marked by abuse, loneliness, anonymity.

            The reading of the text originates a programmatic musical composition, instrumented for a symphonic band, in tonal language, which describes the tense and distressing environments experienced by the main character, as well as his capacity for strength and courage. Given the place where the events take place, as well as the origin of Estefania R., the composition bases its thematic material on rhythms and instruments of African origin such as bata drums, congas and bongos.