Janiquinha - Musique

Francisca Edwiges Neves Gonzaga October 17 1847 Rio De Janeiro Brazil — February 28 1935 Rio De Janeiro Brazil Best Known As Chiquinha Gonzaga Was A Brazilian Composer Pianist And Conductor. She Was The First 'choro' Pianist Author Of The First Carnival March "Ó Abre Alas" 1899 And Also The First Woman To Conduct An Orchestra In Brazil. At A Time When Waltzes Polkas And Tangos Prevailed In The Elite Musical Scene In Brazil Chiquinha Incorporated In Her Compositions The Diversity Found In The Music Of The Lower Classes. The Need To Adapt The Sound Of The Piano To Popular Taste Earned Her Recognition As Brazil's First Popular Composer. Gonzaga Was Also A Pioneer In Defending The Copyrights Of Musicians And Theater Authors As Well As An Active Participant In The Movement For The Abolition Of Slavery Selling Her Sheet Music From Door To Door In Order To Raise Funds For The Liberation Confederation. With The Money Raised From The Sale Of Her Songs She Bought The Freedom Of José Flauta A Slave Musician. Chiquinha's Father Was A Field Marshal Of The Brazilian Imperial Army And Her Mother Was The Daughter Of A Freed Slave. Gonzaga Received An Education That Would Ordinarily Have Lead Her To Be A “sinházinha” A Respectful Officer's Daughter. She Learned How To Read Write And Do Math But Also Music Especially How To Play The Piano A Distinctive Mark Of A Real Lady. In 1863 At Age 16 Francisca Married Jacinto Do Amaral A Navy Official 8 Years Older Than Her Who Would Not Agree To Allow Chiquinha To Pursue A Musical Career. With The Marriage Not Doing Well Chiquinha After Having Her Third Baby Fled Her Husband And Was “declared Dead And Of Unpronounceable Name” By Her Father. She Became The First Woman In Brazil To Obtain A Legal Divorce. Chiquinha Began To Participate In Balls And “chorões” Reunions Normally Reserved For Men Where She Met The Flautist Joaquim Callado And Started To Play In His Group O Choro Do Calado Being The First Woman To Play In This Group. During This Time She Composed Her First Success The Polka Atraente In 1877 “composed By The Piano As An Improvisation During A ‘choro’ Meeting” . At That Time She Was Famous But Highly Criticized By The Masculine Society Of Her Time. Chiquinha Is Most Known For Her Works For The Carnival In Brazil Such As Ó Abre Alas And Theatrical Works As For Example The Operetta Forrobodó. read less