Mozart Bicalho

Origin

Bom Jesus do Amparo, MG

Years Active

1929–1969

Genres

choro, valsa, seresta

Instruments

violão

Biography

Mozart Bicalho was a notable Brazilian classical guitarist, composer, and poet, born in Bom Jesus do Amparo, Minas Gerais, on December 16, 1901. His work is deeply marked by the seresta aesthetic of his time, with an emphasis on genres such as waltz and choro. He is recognized for having been one of the pioneers of the guitar on Brazilian radio, having recorded his first single in 1929. Throughout his career, he composed more than 2,000 works, including anthems that were made official in several municipalities in Minas Gerais, such as Coronel Fabriciano, Santa Bárbara, Dom Joaquim, and his hometown of Bom Jesus do Amparo. His waltz "Gotas de Lágrimas" became a classic of the Brazilian guitar repertoire, having been re-recorded by various artists and considered to be of great technical difficulty.

After beginning his musical studies in Minas Gerais, Mozart Bicalho moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1923, where he specialized in the guitar and gained access to sheet music. He served in the army as a musician, achieving the rank of Major Musician in 1932. In 1952, he returned to Belo Horizonte and founded a guitar school that trained over a thousand students, though it was destroyed by a fire in 1969. His dedication to music and the guitar solidified him as one of the instrument's leading names in Brazil, even if less known to the general public.

In addition to his vast musical output, Mozart Bicalho was also a poet. His life was marked by religiosity and simplicity, and he is remembered for his joy and good humor, enjoying telling jokes and riddles. He passed away in Belo Horizonte on January 11, 1986, at the age of 84, leaving a significant musical legacy that continues to be preserved and studied, as demonstrated by the book "O violão brasileiro de Mozart Bicalho", which gathers his biography and sheet music of his compositions.

Discography

• Sonhando ao Luar (1968)