Walter Smetak

Origin

Salvador, BA

Years active

1934–1984

Genres

avant-garde, mpb, tropicalia, experimental music, microtonal music

Instruments

cello, zither

Biography

Anton Walter Smetak was a Swiss-born Brazilian musician, researcher, and professor who left an indelible mark on the landscape of Brazilian music. Born in Zurich in 1913, he initially studied the cello after an accident affected his right hand, eventually graduating from the Mozarteum in Salzburg and studying in Vienna alongside Pablo Casals. Relocating to Brazil in 1937, Smetak initially worked in various orchestras and radio ensembles, even crossing paths with iconic performers like Carmen Miranda during his early years in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

In 1957, Smetak moved to Salvador, Bahia, at the invitation of Hans Joachim Koellreuter, to teach at the Federal University of Bahia. Immersing himself in esoteric and theosophical studies, he embarked on groundbreaking sonic research that led him to invent and construct over 150 unusual musical instruments, which he referred to as "sound plastics." Crafted from materials such as PVC pipes, gourds, and styrofoam, these sculptures reflected his mystical approach to acoustics and microtonal music. His workshop became a crucial hub for avant-garde experimentation, attracting major figures of the Tropicalia movement.

Smetak's unique philosophy and experimental spirit profoundly influenced an entire generation of Brazilian artists, including Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé, and Marco Antônio Guimarães, the latter of whom went on to found the instrumental group Uakti. Smetak passed away in Salvador in 1984, leaving behind a legacy of microtonal improvisation, rare recordings, and a redefined understanding of sound sculpture. His pioneering work continues to be celebrated as a vital pillar of Brazilian musical modernism and experimentalism.