Romeu Ghipsman

Origin

Desconhecida, Desconhecida

Years Active

1920s–1930s

Genres

choro, fox-trot

Instruments

violin

Biography

Romeu Ghipsman was a conductor, violinist, teacher, and composer of Russian origin who began his artistic career in Brazil in the second half of the 1920s, in Rio de Janeiro. His musical trajectory in the country established him as an important figure in the Brazilian music scene, especially in the 1920s and 1930s.

Hired by the Odeon record label, Ghipsman released his first records in 1928, performing fox-trots and choros on the violin. In 1929, his fox-trot "Alegria" was recorded by the Orquestra Pan American. In the same year, he recorded several pieces for Parlophon, including compositions by Mendelssohn, Agnelo França, Tchaikovsky, Lambert Ribeiro, and Massenet. His collaboration with pianist Mark Hermans resulted in notable recordings, such as the song "Malandrinha" and the piece "Na Bahia tem", for which Ghipsman also contributed arrangements.

Starting in 1933, Romeu Ghipsman worked as a violinist in the Orquestra Típica Victor, recording several songs, including compositions by Radamés Gnattali. He also ventured into film scoring, such as "Onde a Terra Acaba" in 1933. In 1936, Ghipsman assumed the artistic direction of Rádio Nacional, where he also played violin in the Trio Carioca, alongside Radamés Gnattali and Iberê Gomes Grosso. Later, he joined the Radamés Gnattali String Quartet, debuting in 1939 with the piece "Quarteto nº 1". His work includes compositions such as "Alegria" and "Olhos Negros" (with lyrics by Paulo de Carvalho).