Paper short abstract:

The Oceans and its musical heritage: on board of the portuguese ships of 16th-17th centuries, devotions and religious customs were accompanied by a surprising polyphonic musical practice and musical instruments. Evangelization had another missionary order: sacred music in "floating cathedrals".

Paper long abstract:

This communication concerns the religious observance and music on board of 16th/17th-century portuguese ships that sailed to Brazil and India, aiming to draw attention to a stimulating theme which is still of little known of academic public. The crew of a ship included, besides the elements connected directly to navigation, many other travelers who ventured to a new life in the new discovered lands. The religious service of this small maritime society was assured by the priests and missionaries who accompanied them in their ardor of evangelization. It is through the jesuits epistolary, chronicles, and other documents, that is revealed a surprising polyphonic musical practice during mass, devotions and processions, accompanied by many other musical instruments.