César Guerra-Peixe

César Guerra-Peixe was a major figure in 20th century Brazilian musical life, active as a composer, violinist, conductor, and researcher. He also composed for and produced radio broadcasts and documentaries and wrote the scores for many films. Guerra-Peixe (roughly, GEY-ha Peysh) was born in Petrópolis, Brazil, on March 18, 1914, the youngest of ten children. His parents were Portuguese immigrants of Romani descent; his father made horseshoes and was an amateur musician. Guerra-Peixe began playing the guitar at age six and quickly added mandolin, violin, and piano to his talents. At nine, he began studying music theory and solfège, and at 11, he began studies at the Escola de Música Santa Cecília in Petrópolis. He finished theory studies in 1929 and began doing arrangements for instrumental groups; that year, he published a tango, and in 1930, he began teaching violin at the school. Petrópolis could not hold him for long, though, and in 1934, he moved to Rio de Janeiro. He became interested in new developments in European music, and in 1939, he and a group of other composers formed a new ensemble, Música Viva, to perform and promote contemporary European works. In 1944, Guerra-Peixe began studying with composer Hans Joachim Koellreutter, who had been a student of Paul Hindemith. After these studies, Guerra-Peixe rejected nationalist styles and began to write in a serialist idiom. Later, however, he began to draw once again on Brazilian folk music for inspiration. His music was partly fueled by his own research into roots styles of northeastern Brazil; his book Os Maracatus do Recife ("The Maracatu of Recife") is an important ethnomusicological text. Guerra-Peixe composed music in most major genres, including orchestral works, chamber music, keyboard music, songs for voice and piano, choral music, and more. He often premiered his own works, playing violin or conducting. Guerra-Peixe remained active until the end of his life and was a significant mentor for younger composers. More than 15 of his works have been recorded. Guerra-Peixe died in Rio de Janeiro on November 26, 1993. ~ James Manheim, Rovi