December 2021 Musician of the Month – Egberto Gismonti

Musician of the Month: Egberto Gismonti

Egberto Amin Gismonti is a globally acclaimed musician and composer who covers folk and classical music. While most classical musicians of his caliber often pick one instrument to master, Gismonti preferred a different path. He made sure that he knew how to play his genre of music on both guitar and piano. He played both instruments in the most soulful and reflective manner and his music had hints of Brazilian influence. His musical journey is not one that should be ignored. Below is a snippet of his life and journey.

PERSONAL LIFE

Egberto Amin Gismonti was born in Carmo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Originating from South America in December 1947, Gismonti was not born to an average family, but one that was significantly inspired by music. With parents from different origins, Gismonti grew up in a diverse household filled with many cultural influences. His grandfather and uncle were both bandleaders, which inspired the family and him to take up music.

EARLY JOURNEY

By the time Gismonti was 5 years old, he was enrolled to study piano at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music. His eagerness towards piano was because of his father, while his preference towards taking up the guitar at a later stage in his teenage years was because of his mother. Gismonti tried to build coordination between his two favorite instruments and developed his own two-hand technique. Along with this technique, he also altered the strings in the guitar for the composition of classical music. In total, he studied piano for 15 years in Brazil.

At the end of these 15 years, Gismonti moved to Paris to study classical fields like composition and orchestra. He did so under the guidance of Jean Barraque and Nadia Boulanger. Boulanger played a key part in Gismonti’s musical journey as she urged him to incorporate his Brazilian heritage in his music. His culture and background led him to combine classical music with a Brazilian touch.

DISCOGRAPHY

Gismonti released his first label production in 1969, named after himself – Egberto Gismonti. In the same year he performed in Italy at the San Remo Festival, and the next year he went on a tour in Europe. He recorded more of his classical and folk-rock music in various parts of the world including Italy, France, and Germany.

Some of Gismonti’s notable LPs are Sonho 70, Orfeu Novo, Danca das Cabecas, Solo, Circense, and DuasVozes.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCES

Gismonti performed “Mercador de Serpentes” at the 5th FIC. He performed his music at various places in his home country, Brazil. Danca das Cabecas was also nominated for the Album of the Year award and apart from these performances and awards, his music was a considerable contribution for movie soundtracks. Most notable ones would be Em Familia, Confissoes de Frei Abobora, and Penultima Donzela.

His LP album, Academia de Dancas was presented the award of the Golden Record in Brazil, and later performed at festivals in Germany. Joined by other musicians of the same genre on stage, Gismonti truly reveled the experience as did his audiences.

HIS CAREER

Egberto Gismonti structured his guitars with a variety of string combinations. This enabled his instrument to be expansive in range and allowed him to produce exceptional music. This feature is demonstrated many times in his albums and songs. Enthusiasts for classical music and folk-rock are bound to recognize the soulful harmonization it creates.

When discussing his career, 5 phases of his work can clearly be identified. All 5 phases lasted a decade and are categorized by the record label he chose to work with. This went hand in hand with who he chose to collaborate with, and his ensemble format. The first ensemble phase would be the notable album Academia de Dancas which was characterized by instruments like flutes. Gismonti had learned to play these instruments at a very early age while learning the piano, so naturally it signified the first stage of his career. Later on, the drums and bass entered, then percussion was prominent in another phase. Bass and the saxophone played a significant part in his later phase of music as well.

The soulful characterization of his music in the classical and folk-rock genres was internationally renowned. The guitar and the piano truly paved the way for him to make his mark.

REACH OUT TO US

Gismonti was truly experienced in his field after years of guidance by his teachers and mentors. So why should you miss out on the same opportunity? To gain access to amazing teachers for guitar lessons and other music lessons, contact the California Conservatory of Music.

For more information, visit the website or contact us!