Mignone, Francisco (Paulo)

Mignone, Francisco (Paulo), eminent Brazilian composer and pedagogue; b. São Paulo, Sept. 3, 1897; d. Rio de Janeiro, Feb. 20, 1986. He studied with his father, then took courses in piano, flute, and composition at the São Paulo Cons, (graduated, 1917). He then studied with Ferroni at the Milan Cons. (1920). Returning to Brazil, he taught at the São Paulo Cons. (1929–33). He was appointed to the faculty of the Escola Nacional de Música in Rio de Janeiro (1933), and taught there until 1967. His music shows the influence of the modern Italian school of composition; his piano pieces are of virtuoso character; his orchestration shows consummate skill. In many of his works he employs indigenous Brazilian motifs, investing them in sonorous modernistic harmonies not without a liberal application of euphonious dissonances.

Works

dramaticOpera: O Contractador dos diamantes (Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 20, 1924); O inocente (Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 5, 1928); O Chalaça (1972). Operetta: Mizú (1937). Ballet: Maracatú de Chico-Rei (Rio de Janeiro, Oct. 29, 1934); Quadros amazónicos (Rio de Janeiro, July 15, 1949); O guarda chuva (São Paulo, 1954). orch.:Suite campestre (Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 16, 1918); Congada, from the opera O Contractador dos diamantes (São Paulo, Sept. 10, 1922); Scenas da Roda, symphonic dance (São Paulo, Aug. 15, 1923); Festa dionisiaca (Rome, Oct. 24, 1923); Intermezzo lirico (São Paulo, May 13, 1925); 4 fantasias brasilieras for Piano and Orch. (1931–37); Momus, symphonic poem (Rio de Janeiro, April 24, 1933); Suite brasileira (Rio de Janeiro, Dee. 9, 1933); Sonho de um Menino Travesso (São Paulo, Oct. 30, 1937); Seresta for Cello and Orch. (Rio de Janeiro, March 31, 1939); Miudinho, symphonic dance (São Paulo, June 28, 1941); Festa das Igrejas (N.Y., April 22, 1942); Sinfonia tropical (1958); Piano Concerto (1958); Violin Concerto (1961); Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Orch. (1966); Concertino for Clarinet and Small Orch. (1957); Bassoon Concertino (1957); Concerto for Violin and Chamber Orch. (1975). chamber: 2 sextets (1935, 1968); String Octet (1956); 2 string quartets (1956, 1957); 2 wind quintets (1960, 1962); 2 sonatas for 2 Bassoons (1960, 1965); Trifonia for Oboe, Flute, and Bassoon (1963); Tetrafonia for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Trumpet (1963); 3 violin sonatas (1964, 1965, 1966); Sonata for 4 Bassoons (1966); Cello Sonata (1967); 2 wind trios (1967, 1968); 2 sonatas for Flute and Oboe (1969, 1970); Sonata à tre for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet (1970); Sonata for Solo Trumpet (1970); Clarinet Sonata (1971). Piano: 4 sonatas (1941, 1962, 1964, 1967); Samba rítmico for 2 Pianos (1953); Sonata humorística for 2 Pianos (1968); Rondo (1969); waltzes. VOCAL: 2 oratorios:Alegrias de Nossa Senhora (Rio de Janeiro, July 15, 1949) and Santa Claus (1962); many songs.

Bibliography

B. Kiefer, F M. (Porto Alegre, 1984); V Mariz, ed., F. M.: O homen e a obra (Rio de Janeiro, 1997).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire