The year of 1647 “that is said of the Famine and Earthquakes”: The impact of the seismic crisis in the soundscape of Angra

Abstract

Referring to 1647, Manuel Luís Maldonado entitled the chapter dedicated to this year in his Fenix Angrence as of the famine and earthquakes. From his account one understands that this was a difficult year for the peoples of the Azorean island of Terceira and in particular the city of Angra. Many processions were made by the Franciscan friars to appease God’s wrath towards the people of the island. That year was also a time of drought during spring and the wheat was scarce promoting religious ceremonies that begged for rain. Using Maldonado’s account as a basis, the study aims to reconstitute the possible soundscape of Angra surrounding these religious events that, besides their religiosity, were also civic and social moments in the city’s life.