Authenticity in Fusion Music

"""Elsen Portugal is a master scholar-practitioner. His chronicling of the dynamic interweaving of cultural manifestation with expressions of Christian faith, even in the unique environment of an indigenous Brazilian people group, can be instructive for anyone seeking guidance in their own locale. This book plows important ground which will surely bear good fruit for ethnodoxology as a discipline and as a celebration of the arts in service for the gospel."" --Rob Hewell, professor of music, Ouachita Baptist University ""Elsen Portugal has enriched the field of ethnodoxology through a creatively designed and executed study of the indigenous musical styles and practices of the Xerente churches in Brazil. His research provides thoughtful and thought-provoking insights into the 'authentic' development of musical worship within that culture, suggesting an effective framework for examining the worship musical styles of other Christian communities. Thank you, Elsen Portugal, for your hard work and devotion to cross cultural missions."" --Stan Moore, professor of church music and worship, B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary ""Elsen Portugal has provided both theoretical and practical evidence from his study of the Brazilian Xerente fusion genres that churches can embrace to create and meld their culture's music and traditions into their own musical worship. His pursuit of authentic music genres that fuse multiple influences for worship lays the groundwork for global churches to find their doxological voice for their culture in their time. This study will become a foundational work in the study of ethnodoxology."" --Gene Wilkes, president and professor of New Testament and leadership, B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary"