O aboio. Der Gesang der Vaqueiros im Nordosten Brasiliens

This is a study on work songs of cattle herders in the northeast of Brazil based on field work carried out in 1980. Originally the *aboio* was a simple but characteristic shout. Its main objective was the communication between the cattle and the herders as well as the communication among the herders which are called *vaqueiros*. However, recently the *aboio in verses* has melted with poetry - and in particular with the art of vers improvisation which is widespread and highly appreciated in the region. The melodic analysis brought forth that the *aboio* is based on the mixolydic scale, the poetry is a six line stanza with seven syllables called *sextilha*. Due to socio economic change cattle herding not any longer is the dominant economic factor and hence singing the *aboio* has become rare in everyday life. However, it still can be heard when people sit together after work or in the weekend on the occasion of a *vaquejada*, a festivity which still takes place in the former grazing grounds of northeast Brazil.