Levino Albano da Conceição

Origin

Cuiabá, MT

Also known as

Levino da Conceição, Leviano Albano da Conceição

Years active

1917–1955

Genres

choro, classical music, Brazilian popular music

Instruments

guitar

Biography

Levino Albano da Conceição was a renowned Brazilian classical guitarist and composer, considered one of the greatest exponents of the guitar in the country during the first decades of the 20th century. Born in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, on November 12, 1895, he went blind at the age of seven, but this did not stop him from developing an exceptional musical talent. By the age of nine, he was already playing the guitar and was recognized as one of the best in his hometown. His skill with the instrument was such that by the age of twelve he demonstrated complete mastery, with the capacity for improvisation in all keys.

In search of musical improvement, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he studied at the Benjamin Constant Institute, an institution dedicated to the education of the visually impaired. Starting in 1917, Levino da Conceição began dedicated work teaching music to the blind, encouraging the creation of specialized schools in several Brazilian states. He performed concerts all over the country, raising funds and raising society's awareness about the importance of professional and musical education for people with visual impairments.

As a composer, Levino Albano da Conceição left a legacy of notable works, including "Canção Gaúcha", "Cateretê Mineiro", "Saudades do Rio Grande" (in partnership with Nelson Paixão) and "Valsa da Saudade". He was the teacher of Dilermando Reis, one of the most famous Brazilian guitarists, who recorded "Canção Gaúcha" and "Cateretê Mineiro". Levino also recorded his own compositions for Odeon in the late 1920s and had contact with the Paraguayan guitarist Agustín Barrios. His dedication to music and the cause of the visually impaired made him an inspiring and timeless figure in the history of Brazilian music.