Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Brazil

Birth

:

April 15, 1868 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Death

:

March 14, 1945 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Francisco Ernani Braga was a Brazilian composer and pianist who lived from 1868 to 1945. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and showed an early interest in music. His father, João Gomes Braga, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Maria da Glória Braga, was a pianist. Francisco Ernani Braga began studying music with his parents at a young age, and he showed great talent as a pianist. In 1885, Francisco Ernani Braga went to Europe to study music. He studied piano with Rafael Joseffy in New York and with Ferruccio Busoni in Berlin. He also studied composition with Max Bruch in Berlin and with Jules Massenet in Paris. During his time in Europe, Francisco Ernani Braga became familiar with the music of the great composers of the time, including Wagner, Brahms, and Debussy. After returning to Brazil in 1890, Francisco Ernani Braga began a successful career as a composer and pianist. He composed music in a variety of genres, including opera, chamber music, and piano music. His music was influenced by the European composers he had studied with, but he also incorporated elements of Brazilian folk music into his compositions. One of Francisco Ernani Braga's most famous works is his opera "Jupyra," which premiered in Rio de Janeiro in 1899. The opera tells the story of a young indigenous woman who falls in love with a Portuguese soldier. The opera was well-received and helped establish Francisco Ernani Braga as one of Brazil's leading composers. In addition to his opera, Francisco Ernani Braga composed a number of other works that are still performed today. His "Suite Brasileira" for piano is a collection of pieces that incorporate Brazilian folk melodies and rhythms. His "Quarteto em forma de Chôros" for string quartet is another example of his use of Brazilian folk music in his compositions. Francisco Ernani Braga was also a respected pianist and performed throughout Brazil and Europe. He was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to interpret a wide range of music. He was particularly admired for his performances of the music of Chopin and Liszt. Throughout his career, Francisco Ernani Braga was a champion of Brazilian music and worked to promote the music of his country. He was a founding member of the Brazilian Academy of Music and served as its president from 1924 to 1930. He also taught at the National Institute of Music in Rio de Janeiro and helped train a new generation of Brazilian musicians. Francisco Ernani Braga died in Rio de Janeiro in 1945, but his music continues to be performed and admired today. His contributions to Brazilian music helped establish a distinct national identity in classical music and inspired generations of Brazilian composers.

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