Egberto Gismonti
Encyclopedia
Egberto Gismonti Amin is a Brazilian composer, guitarist
and pianist
.
Gismonti began his formal music studies at the age of six on piano. After studying classical music for 15 years, he went to Paris
to study orchestration and analysis with Nadia Boulanger
and the composer Jean Barraqué
, a disciple of Schoenberg
and Webern
. After his return to Brazil
, Gismonti began to explore other musical genres. He was attracted by Ravel
's approach to orchestration
and chord voicings, as well as by "choro
", a Brazil
ian instrumental popular music featuring various types of guitars. In order to play this music he learned to play guitar
, beginning on the 6-string classical instrument and switching to a ten-stringed guitar in 1973. He spent two years experimenting with different tunings and searching for new sounds. This exploration of timbre is further reflected in his use of kalimbas, Shō, voice, bells, etc. By the early '70s, he had laid the groundwork for his current style which incorporated elements drawn from musicians as wide-ranging as Django Reinhardt
and Jimi Hendrix
. In the 1970s and 1980s he collaborated several times with Nana Vasconcelos
recording for ECM
. Some best-selling albums such as the Brazilian released eponymous Egberto Gismonti were never officially released in the US.
Albums as producer and/or arranger:
Production and/or Performances as musician in Carmo/LPs released in Brazil:
Marco Bosco - Fragmentos Da Casa - 1986
Piry Reis - Rio Zero Grau - 1986
Fernando Falçao - Barracas Barrocas - 1987
Production and/or Performance in Carmo/ECM CD’s released outside of Brazil:
Music for Ballet:
Movie Scores:
Music for Special TV series:
Music for Theater (Brazil):
Music for expositions of Painters & Sculptors (all in Brazil):
Written Music for different ensembles:
Previous ‘94 Releases & Works:
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
and pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
Gismonti began his formal music studies at the age of six on piano. After studying classical music for 15 years, he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to study orchestration and analysis with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
and the composer Jean Barraqué
Jean Barraqué
Jean-Henri-Alphonse Barraqué was a French composer and writer on music who developed an individual form of serialism which is displayed in a small output of highly complex but passionate works.-Life:...
, a disciple of Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
and Webern
Anton Webern
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer and conductor. He was a member of the Second Viennese School. As a student and significant follower of Arnold Schoenberg, he became one of the best-known exponents of the twelve-tone technique; in addition, his innovations regarding schematic organization of...
. After his return to 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...
, Gismonti began to explore other musical genres. He was attracted by Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
's approach to orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
and chord voicings, as well as by "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...
", 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 instrumental popular music featuring various types of guitars. In order to play this music he learned to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, beginning on the 6-string classical instrument and switching to a ten-stringed guitar in 1973. He spent two years experimenting with different tunings and searching for new sounds. This exploration of timbre is further reflected in his use of kalimbas, Shō, voice, bells, etc. By the early '70s, he had laid the groundwork for his current style which incorporated elements drawn from musicians as wide-ranging as Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. In the 1970s and 1980s he collaborated several times with Nana Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos
Naná Vasconcelos is a Brazilian Latin jazz percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, most notable for his works with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Egberto Gismonti, and Gato Barbieri....
recording for ECM
ECM (record label)
ECM is a record label founded in Munich, Germany, in 1969 by Manfred Eicher. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a wide variety of recordings, and ECM's artists often refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres...
. Some best-selling albums such as the Brazilian released eponymous Egberto Gismonti were never officially released in the US.
Discography
Albums:- Egberto Gismonti (Elenco [Brazil], 1969)
- Sonho 70 (Polygram [Brazil], 1970)
- Janela De Ouro - 1970 - France
- Computador - 1970 - France
- Orfeo Novo - 1971 - Germany
- Água & Vinho - 1972 - Brazil
- Arvore - 1973 - Brazil
- Academia De Danças - 1974 - Brazil
- Coraçoes Futuristas - 1976 - Brazil
- Dança Das CabeçasDança Das CabeçasDança Das Cabeças is an album by Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1976 and released on the ECM label. The album was Gismonti's first for the European label which established the beginnings of a long and productive association.-Reception:The Allmusic review by...
(ECM, 1977) with Nana Vasconcelos - Carmo - 1977 - Brazil
- Sol Do Meio DiaSol Do Meio DiaSol Do Meio Dia is an album by Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1977 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4 stars calling it an "impressive combo outing.....
(ECM, 1978) - No Caipira - 1978 - Brazil
- SoloSolo (Egberto Gismonti album)Solo is a solo album by Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1978 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1979) - E. Gismonti & N. Vasconcelos & M. Smetak - 1979 - Brazil
- MagicoMagico (album)Magico is an album by bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1979) with Charlie HadenCharlie HadenCharles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
and Jan GarbarekJan GarbarekJan Garbarek is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war Czesław Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's daughter... - CircenseCircenseCircense is a 1980 studio album recorded by the Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Egberto Gismonti. All the album was elaborated under the concept of circus and its recording counts with some beloved Brazilian musicians of that period....
- 1980 - Brazil - Folk SongsFolk Songs (album)Folk Songs is an album by bassist Charlie Haden, saxophonist Jan Garbarek and guitarist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label. The album follows the trio's first recording Magico .-Reception:...
(ECM, 1981) with Charlie Haden and Jan Garbarek - Em Familia - 1981 - Brazil
- SanfonaSanfonaSanfona is an album by Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1980 and 1981 and released on the ECM label. The double album features one disc of studio material with Gismonti's Academia de Dancas quartet and one disc of solo material recorded live.-Reception:The...
(ECM, 1980) solo and with Academia de Dancas - Frevo - 1980 - Brazil (EMI Odeon)
- Fantasia - 1982 - Brazil
- Guitar From ECM - 1982 - France
- Sonhos De Castro Alves - 1982 - Brazil
- Cidade Coraçao - 1983 - Brazil
- Egberto Gismondi & Hermeto Pascoal - 1983 - Brazil
- Works (ECM, 1984)
- Egberto Gismonti - 1984 - Brazil
- Duas VozesDuas VozesDuas Vozes is an album by Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist Egberto Gismonti and percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in 1984 and released on the ECM label...
(ECM, 1985) with Nana Vasconcelos - Trem Caipira - 1985 - Brazil
- Alma - 1986 - Brazil
- Feixe De Luz - 1988 - Brazil
- Pagador De Promessas - 1988 - Brazil
- Dança Dos EscravosDança Dos EscravosDança Dos Escravos is a solo album by Brazilian composer and guitarist Egberto Gismonti recorded in 1988 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4½ stars.-Track listing:# "2 Violões" - 5:58# "Lundu" - 6:30...
(ECM, 1989) - Kuarup - 1989 - film music score - Brazil
- Duo Gismonti/Vasconcelos Jazzbuhne Berlin - 1989 - live recording - East Germany
- Infância (ECM, 1990)
- Poetic Anthology of Joao Cabral De Mello E Neto - 1979 - Brazil
- Poetic Anthology of Ferreira Gullar - 1979 - Brazil
- Poetic Anthology of Jorge Amado - 1980 - Brazil
- Children's Music - A Viagem Do Vaporzinho Tereré - with Dulce Bressante - 1980 - Brazil
- Children's Music - O Pais Das Aguas Luminosas - 1980 - Brazil
- Children's Music - O Girigivel Tereré - with Francis Hime - 1980 - Brazil
- Amazônia - 1991 - film music score - Brazil
- El Viaje - 1992 - film music score - France
- Casa Das Andorinhas' - 1992 - Brazil
- Musica de Sobrevivéncia - 1993 - Germany (ECM)
- Egberto Gismonti - 1993 - Live at the 87 Festival in Freiburg Proscenium - CDV - Germany
- Egberto Gismonti - 1993 - Live at 93 São Paulo -Tom Brazil - Brazil
- Zigzag - 1996 (ECM)
- Meeting Point - 1997 (ECM)
- In Montreal - 2001 (ECM) with Charlie Haden
- Saudacoes - 2009 (ECM) with Alexandre Gismonti
Albums as producer and/or arranger:
- Dulce - O Samba Do Escritor - 1968 - Brazil
- Maysa - 1969 - Brazil
- Agostinho Dos Santos - 1969 - Brazil
- Marie Laforet - 1970 - France
- Johnny Alf - Nos - 1973 - Brazil
- Airto Moreira - Identity - 1975 - USA
- A Barca Do Sol - 1975 - Brazil
- Flora Purim - Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly - 1975 - Brazil
- Paul Horn - Altura Do Sol (High Sun) - 1976 - USA
- Wanderléa - Vamos Que Eu Ja Vou - 1977 - Brazil
- Marlui Miranda - Olho D’Agua - 1979 - Brazil
- Nana Vasconcelos - SaudadesSaudades (Nana Vasconcelos album)Saudades is an album by Brazilian jazz percussionist Naná Vasconcelos recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by John Storm Roberts awarded the album 4½ stars stating "This 1979 recording is probably Afro-experimentalist Vasconcelos' finest...
(ECM, 1979) - A Cor Do SomA Cor do SomA Cor do Som is a MPB group from Rio de Janeiro. The band formed in 1977 when Moraes Moreira and fellow bandmates left Novos Baianos....
- Intuição - 1984 - Brazil - Bernard Wystraete - Intromission - 1985 - France
Production and/or Performances as musician in Carmo/LPs released in Brazil:
- Andre Geraissati - Entre Duas Palavras - 1983
- Nando Carneiro - Violão - 1983
- Luiz Eça - Luiz Eça - 1984
- Robertinho Silva - Bateria - 1984
- Piry Reis - Caminho Do Interior - 1984
- Aleuda - Oferenda - 1984
- Antonio José - Un Mito Uma Coruja Branca - 1984
- Carioca - Sete Dias, Sete Instrumentos, Musica - 1984
- Grupo Papavento - Aurora Dorica Para O Embaixador De Jupiter - 1984
- Artistas Carmenses - Carmo Ano 1 - 1985
- Luigi Irlandini - Azul E Areira - 1985
- Mú Carvalho - Meu Continente Encontrado - 1985
- William Senna - O Homen Do Madeiro - 1985
- Nando Carneiro - Mantra Brasil - 1986
- Luiz Eça, Robertinho Silva and Luiz Alves - Triângulo - 1986
Marco Bosco - Fragmentos Da Casa - 1986
Piry Reis - Rio Zero Grau - 1986
Fernando Falçao - Barracas Barrocas - 1987
Production and/or Performance in Carmo/ECM CD’s released outside of Brazil:
- Arvore - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra - 1991
- Circense - Egberto Gismonti , group and Orchestra - 1991
- Violão - Nando Carneiro - 1991
- Kuarup - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra - 1991
- Academia De Danças - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra -1992
- Trem Caipira - Egberto Gismonti group - 1992
- Nó Caipira - Egberto Gismonti, group and Orchestra - 1992
- Amazonia - Egberto Gismonti group - 1992
- 7 Dias, 7 instrumentos, musica - Carioca - 1992
Music for Ballet:
- Maracatu / Choreography of Décio Otero with Ballet Stagium - 1974 - Brazil
- Coraçoes Futuristas / Choreography of Vitor Navarro with Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Municipal De São PauloTheatro Municipal (São Paulo)Municipal Theatre of São Paulo is a theatre in São Paulo, Brazil. It is regarded as one of the landmarks of the city, significant both for its architectural value as well as for its historical importance, having been the venue for the Week of Modern Art in 1922, which revolutionised the arts in...
- 1976 - Brazil - Conforme A Altura Do Sol, Conforme A Altura Da Lua / Choreography of Décio Otero with Ballett Stagium - 1978 - Brazil
- Dança Das Cabeças / Choreography of Décio Otero with Ballet Stagium - 1978 - Brazil
- Construçao / Choreography of Klaus e Angel Vianna - 1978 - Brazil
- Sonhos De Castro Alves / Choreography of Antonio Carlos Cardoso with the Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Castro Alves - Salvador - 1982 - Brazil
- Variaçoes / Choreography of Graziela Figuerca with Grupo Coringa - 1984 - Brazil
- Agua y Vinho / Choreography of Philip S. Rosemond at University of Cincinnati - 1986 - Ohio, USA
- Pantanal / Choreography of Décio Otero with the Ballet Stagium - 1986 - Brazil
- Variações Sobre Villa Lobos / Choreography of Décio Otero with the Ballet Stagium - 1987 - Brazil
- Maracatu / Choreography and performance of Ballet Babinka - 1986 - Uruguay
- Jogo De Buzios / Choreography of Antonio Carlos Cardoso with the Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Castro Alves - 1988 - Brazil
- Natura / Choreography of Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians - 1988 - Live music performance in USA
- Sonhos De Castro Alves 2 / Choreography of Victor Navarro with the Corpo De Baile Do Teatro Castro Alves - 1988 - Brazil
- Inconfidentes / Choreography of various choreographs with the Corpo De Baile De Teatro Palacio Das Artes - 1988 - Brazil
- Iemanja / Choreography of Joe Alegado with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1990 - live music performance at Philharmonic of Köln - Germany
- Danças Solitarias / Choreography of Jochen Ulrich with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1990 - performance at Philharmonic of Köln - Germany
- 7 Anéis / Choreography of Jochen Ulrich with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1990 - performance at Philharmonic of Köln - Germany
- Arrivals and Deparatures / Choreography of Philip S. Rosemond - 1991 - Space for Dance - Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Carmen / Choreography of Jochen Ulrich with Tanz-Forum (Opera’s Ballet of Cologne) - 1993 - performance at Köln, Ludwigsburg and Ludwigshafen - Germany
Movie Scores:
- A Penultima Donzela / Directed by Fernando Amaral - 1969 - Brazil
- Em Famiglia / Directed by Paulo Porto - 1971 - Brazil
- Confissões do Frei Abóbora / Directed by Braz Chediak -1972 - Brazil
- Janaina / Directed by Olivier Perroy - 1973 - Brazil
- Terra do Guaraná / documentary - 1974 - Brazil
- Quem tem Medo do Lobisomem / Directed by Reginaldo Farias - 1973 - Brazil
- Nem os Bruxos Escapam / Directed by Valdir Ercolani - 1974 - Brazil
- Polichinelo / Directed by Jean Pierre Albicoco - 1975 - Brazil
- Raoni / Directed by Jean Pierre Dutilleux - 1976 - France
- Parada 88 / Directed by José by Anchieta - 1977 - Brazil
- Cruising / Directed by William Frietkin - 1979 - USA
- Ato by Violência / Directed by Eduardo Escorel - 1980 - Brazil
- Pra Frente Brasil / Directed by Roberto Farias - 1981 - Brazil
- Euridyce / Dir. by Mauro Alice / Documentary - 1983 - Brazil
- Avaeté / Directed by Zelito Vienna - 1985 - Brazil
- La Bela Palomera / Directed by Rui Guerra - 1987 - Brazil
- Kuarup / Directed by Rui Guerra - 1988 - Brazil
- Amazonia / Directed by Monti Aguirre - 1990 - USA
- El Viaje / Directed by Fernando Solanas - 1991 - Argentina
- Tempo De Paz / Directed by Daniel Filho - 2009 - Brazil
- Chico Xavier / Directed by Daniel Filho - 2010 - Brazil
Music for Special TV series:
- As Nadadoras / (Art Video) Tv Manchete of Mariza Alvares Lima - 1986 - Brazil
- ? - Diadorim / (Art Video) of José de Anchieta - 1987 - Brazil
- Pantanal / (Documentary) TV Manchete of Washington Novaes - 1986 - Brazil
- O Pagador De Promessas / (Mini-serie of 15 episodes) TV Globo of Dias Gomes, dir. Tizuca Yamasaki - 1988 - Brazil
- Um Grito Pela Vida / Conservation International Production - Haroldo e Flavia Castro - 1991 - USA
- Amazonia Parte II / (serie of 120 episodes) TV Manchete of T. Yamsaki and Regina Braga , dir. Tizuca Yamasaki - 1992 - Brazil
- Kuarup / (Mini-serie of 5 episodes) TV Manchete of Rui Guerra - 1992 - Brazil
Music for Theater (Brazil):
- Maria Minhoca / by Maria Clara Machado - 1969
- Encontro No Bar / by Braulio Pedroso / dir. by Celso Nunes with Camila Amado and Zanoni Perrite - 1973
- Seria Comico Se Nao Fosse Serio / by Dürrenmatt / dir. by Celso Nunes with Fernanda Montenegro, Mauro Mendoça and Fernando Torres - 1974
- Festa de Sabado / by Braulio Pedroso & Geraldo Carneiro, dir. de Daniel Filbo and Antonio Pedro with Camila Amado and Antonio Pedro - 1976
- O Pequeno Principe / by Saint Exupery with Carlos Vereza and Susane Carvalho - 1978
- Dor De Amor / by Braulio Pedroso dir. by Paulo Cesar Pereio with Paulo Cesar Pereio and Scarlet Moon - 1976
- Bandeira Dos Cinco Milreis / by Geraldo Carneiro, dir. by Aderbal Jr. with Maria Padiha and Marco Nanini - 1985
- Passageiro Da Estrela / Dir. by Sergio Fonta, with Lidia Brondi - 1984
- O Homen Sobre o Parapeito Da Ponte / by Guy Poissy with Carlos Vereza and Clemente Vizcaino - 1987
- Sonhos De Uma Noite De Verão / by William Shakespeare, dir. by Werner Herzog - 1992 for Exp
Music for expositions of Painters & Sculptors (all in Brazil):
- Os Muito Universos / by Miralda Pedroso (installation) - 1985
- Ita-Parica / (Fragmentos de uma exposiçao) by Miralda Pedroso (installation) - 1985
- Figueira Branca / by Akiko Fujita (Sculpture & Installation) - 1986
- Os Sete Aneis / by Antonio Peticov (Sculpture) - 1986
Written Music for different ensembles:
- Music for 48 Strings - dedicated to Igor Strawinsky
- Ritmos & Danças - guitar and Orchestra - dedicated to Léo Brower
- Dança das Sombras - Chamber Orchestra - 1983
- 10 Guitar Studies - 1979/1990
- 10 Strings Quartet - 1987/1990
- Songbook - released by Editions Gismonti - 1989/1990
- 10 Piano Studies - 1989/1990
- Musica de Sobrevivência - Symphonic Music commissioned by Sec. Cultura de São Paulo - 1990
- Realejo - Chamber Orchestra - 1991
- Strawa no Sertão - Chamber Orchestra - 1991
- Cabinda, a cantiga dos Espiritos - (5 movements) Symphonic Music commissioned by Zürich Symphonic Orchestra - 1992
- Imagem & Variações - Symphonic Music commissioned by São Paulo Symphonic Orchestra - 1992
- Strawa no Sertão , Maxixe - Symphonic Music commissioned by Copenhagen Symphonic Orchestra - 1993
- Lundú - Symphonic Music commissioned by Copenhagen Symphonic Orchestra - 1993
- Forró - Symphonic Music commissioned by Orchestra Symphonic of Bahia - OSBA - 1993
- Frevo - Symphonic Music commissioned by Cordoba Symphonic Orchestra 1993
- Dança dos Escravos - Symphonic Music commissioned by Cordoba Symphonic Orchestra - 1993
Previous ‘94 Releases & Works:
- Gismonti & Vasconcelos - Live at ‘87 Montreux Jazz Festival - Warner Bros. CD
- Gismonti & C. Haden - Live at ‘89 Montreal Jazz Festival - Polygram Classics CD
- Gismonti & Ars Nova - Gismonti Vocal Music - ECM Records CD
- Livro das Ignorânças - Music based in Manoel de Barros Poems - ECM Records CD
- Casa das Andorinhas - Music for ‘92 Brazilian TV Series - Carmo/ECM CD
- Bandeira do Brasil - Compilation of E. Gismonti works - Carmo/ECM CD
- Song Book number 2 - Mundiamusic & Ed. Gismonti - Switzerland - songbook
- Music for Strings Quartet - Mundiamusic & Ed. Gismonti - Swintzerland - music book