The piano music of Orlando Fagnani and its connections to the choro tradition

Authors

• Norman J. CharetteFollow

Preferred Name

Norman J. Charette

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4191-9957

Date of Graduation

5-15-2026

Semester of Graduation

Spring

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Department

School of Music

First Advisor

Paulo Steinberg

Second Advisor

Judith Ofcarcik

Third Advisor

Andrew Connell

Abstract

This study explores the life, piano works, and compositional style of Orlando Fagnani (1922–1977) as it fits into the choro tradition. By situating his compositions within their historical context, providing biographical insights, investigating stylistic features, and analyzing one of his piano works, Mini Prelúdio No. 1, this document highlights Fagnani’s contribution to Brazilian music and places him not only among significant composers of choro, but also among the leading Brazilian composers of the twentieth century. The fortunate timing of his birth in the same year as the Week of Modern Art contributed to a deeper connection with Brazil’s modernismo movement, allowing him to create works that imbued Brazilian characteristics traditionally linked to choro, while drawing upon European influences and experimenting with harmonic colors, textures, and forms to create his own unique musical identity.