“I Make My Own Time”: Julio Valverde’s Temporal Agency Through Musicking

Abstract

Although music’s potential to alter the perception of the passage of time is well known, a better understanding of how it works in practice is still needed. In this regard, studies on temporal agency such as those by Flaherty (2011) and Hitlin and Elder (2007) have become important references, as they seek to identify the parameters on which individuals base themselves in the making of time. Based on an ethnography centred on Julio Valverde, a 79-year-old Brazilian cook and composer, I intend to show how his different forms of musicking are capable of shaping both his own experiences of time and those of the people of his intimate circle. In addition, the article explores issues related to Julio’s aging, examining both his musical flourishing and his unique perspective on the past, present, and future.