Sociabilidad acústica. El sonido de la asociación: Voces, ruidos y ambientes sonoros en Évora, 1835-1950

Abstract

This research focuses on a field quite unknown, the reconstruction of the soundscape of gentlemanly capitalism associations. These societies were dedicated to leisure, card games, and men's gathering. Although music or culture sometimes took place in their halls, this is not the subject of this research. The focus is the soundscape of sounds and noises of daily encounter behind its walls (not concerts or dance music). We analyse the case of historical associations of Évora (founded in XIXth Century), which are compared with other Portughese and Spanish associations, when necessary. The research concludes that sounds were essentials, in its variant of noises or voices, because they could lead to modify emotions, architectures or schedules, indicating that sound was essential for the wealthy functioning of the association and the maintenance of the so-called «good manners».