Braguinha (composer)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Alberto Ferreira Braga (March 29, 1907 – December 24, 2006), commonly known as Braguinha ("Little Braga") or João de Barro ("the Hornero
"), was a Brazil
ian songwriter and occasional singer. He was born in Rio de Janeiro
, where he lived all his life. Braga studied architecture
in his youth, and, when he started to write songs, he adopted the pseudonym "João de Barro" (the name of a bird that builds elaborate mud nests), as his father wouldn't approve of seeing the family name associated with the world of samba
and popular music, then on the fringes of society.
Braguinha is most famous for his Carnaval
marchinhas (a genre of light-hearted songs related rhythmically to the military march
). Many of those, some composed as early as the 1930s, have become standards of Brazilian popular music, being sung by revellers year after year during Carnaval celebrations. His marchinhas have been recorded by some of the best-known Carnaval singers of the 20th century, such as Carmen Miranda
.
In 1937, Braguinha wrote the lyrics to "Carinhoso", composed by Pixinguinha
twenty years earlier. The sophisticated samba-choro
would become one of the most recorded songs in Brazilian musical history. Another beloved classic, the lyrical "Pastorinhas", was written in collaboration with legendary samba composer Noel Rosa
.
He died on December 24, 2006, at the age of 99; the official cause of death was described as multiple organ failure caused by a general infection
.
Hornero
The horneros are members of the genus Furnarius in the family Furnariidae, native to South America.Horneros are brown birds with rather short tails and fairly long bills. They are known for building mud nests that resemble old wood-fired ovens...
"), was a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian songwriter and occasional singer. He was born in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, where he lived all his life. Braga studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
in his youth, and, when he started to write songs, he adopted the pseudonym "João de Barro" (the name of a bird that builds elaborate mud nests), as his father wouldn't approve of seeing the family name associated with the world of samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
and popular music, then on the fringes of society.
Braguinha is most famous for his Carnaval
Brazilian Carnival
The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations...
marchinhas (a genre of light-hearted songs related rhythmically to the military march
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
). Many of those, some composed as early as the 1930s, have become standards of Brazilian popular music, being sung by revellers year after year during Carnaval celebrations. His marchinhas have been recorded by some of the best-known Carnaval singers of the 20th century, such as Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda, GCIH was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, Broadway actress and Hollywood film star popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was, by some accounts, the highest-earning woman in the United States and noted for her signature fruit hat outfit she wore in the 1943 movie The Gang's...
.
In 1937, Braguinha wrote the lyrics to "Carinhoso", composed by Pixinguinha
Pixinguinha
Alfredo da Rocha Viana, Jr., better known as Pixinguinha was a composer, arranger, flautist and saxophonist born in Rio de Janeiro. Pixinguinha is considered one of the greatest Brazilian composers of popular music, particularly within the genre of music known as choro...
twenty years earlier. The sophisticated samba-choro
Choro
Choro , traditionally called chorinho , is a Brazilian popular music instrumental style. Its origins are in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. In spite of the name, the style often has a fast and happy rhythm, characterized by virtuosity, improvisation, subtile modulations and full of syncopation and...
would become one of the most recorded songs in Brazilian musical history. Another beloved classic, the lyrical "Pastorinhas", was written in collaboration with legendary samba composer Noel Rosa
Noel Rosa
Noel de Medeiros Rosa was a Brazilian songwriter, singer, and guitar/banjo player. One of the greatest names in Brazilian popular music, Noel gave a new twist to samba, combining its Afro-Brazilian roots with a more urban, witty language and making it a vehicle for ironic social commentary.Noel...
.
He died on December 24, 2006, at the age of 99; the official cause of death was described as multiple organ failure caused by a general infection
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
.
Selected discography
- Pra vancê/Coisas da roça (1929) Parlophon 78
- Desengano/Assombração (1929) Parlophon 78
- Salada (1929) Parlophon 78
- Não quero amor nem carinho (1930) Parlophon 78
- Dona Antonha (1930) Parlophon 78
- Minha cabrocha/A mulher e a carroça (1930) Parlophon 78
- Quebranto (1930) Parlophon 78
- Mulata (1931) Parlophon 78
- Cor de prata/Nega (1931) Parlophon 78
- Tu juraste… eu jurei/Vou à Penha rasgado (1931) Parlophon 78
- Samba da boa vontade/Picilone (1931) 13.344 78
- O amor é um bichinho/Lua cheia (1932) Parlophon 78
- João de Barro (1972) RCA Victor LP
- Viva Braguinha (1985) LP
- João de Barro e Coisas Nossas (1983) Funarte LP
- Yes, nós temos Braguinha (1998) Funarte/Atração CD
- João de Barro (Braguinha) — Nasce um compositor (1999) Revivendo CD
- João de Barro — A música do século, por seus autores e intérpretes (2000) Sesc São Paulo CD