Chiquinha Gonzaga

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Chiquinha Gonzaga (Rio de Janeiro, October 17, 1847 - New York, February 28, 1935) Brazilian woman composer.

Francisca Gonzaga was born in Rio de Janeiro, from a wealthy family – after she was born her father became Marshal.) She received an education that would ordinarily have lead her to be a “sinhazinha”, 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 (Portuguese: dama).

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 flutist Joaquim Callado and starts to play in his group, O Choro do Calado, being the first woman to play in this group and also the first pianeira. During this time she composes her first success, the polka Atraente, in 1877, “composed by the piano, as an improvisation, during a ‘choro’ meeting” . At this time, she was famous but highly criticized by the masculine society of her time.

Chiquinha was an active citizen, involved in all kinds of social movements that took place during her age in Brazil, such as the Abolition of Slavery and even the Republic movement.

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.

by Higo Rodrigues

Link: Chiquinha Gonzaga - A Maestrina www.chiquinhagonzaga.com