Rossini Ferreira

Origin

Nazaré da Mata, PE

Years Active

1930–2001

Genres

choro

Instruments

bandolim

Biography

Rossini Ferreira was born in Nazaré da Mata on July 7, 1919, and passed away in Recife on March 26, 2001. Self-taught, he learned to play the mandolin on his own and only learned to read sheet music when he was already in his seventies. Throughout his career, he stood out as one of the great names in Brazilian choro, composing dozens of choros, waltzes, and maxixes.

In 1959, he participated in a famous trip of Pernambucan musicians to Rio de Janeiro, where the group was received at the residence of Jacob do Bandolim. On that occasion, he met with important figures of national music, such as Pixinguinha, Radamés Gnattali, and Paulinho da Viola. Later, he settled in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, where he won prizes in choro contests, including the "Brasileiro" contest, promoted by Rede Bandeirantes.

At the age of 70, he returned to Pernambuco upon an invitation to teach at the Pernambuco Conservatory of Music and to join the Pernambuco Plucked String Orchestra as a soloist. With this prestigious orchestra, he recorded an LP for Funarte and recorded his talent on a CD released by Kuarup in 1999, dedicated exclusively to his compositions.

Discography

• Henrique Annes e Rossini Ferreira – Chorinho do Capibaribe (1985)
• Um Alô para Six (1997)
• Choros Românticos