Biography
Radamés Gnattali (27 January 1906 – 3 February 1988) was a Brazilian composer of both classical and popular music, as well as a conductor, orchestrator, and arranger. He was the brother of the conductor and arranger Alexandre Gnattali. Gnattali's musical career straddled popular and classical genres and their traditions. His arrangements of samba pieces, involving strings, woodwind and brass (rather than the traditional accompaniments with two guitars, cavaquinho, accordion, tamborin and flute) exposed him to lifelong critical attacks from Brazilian musical traditionalists who resented the "jazzing up" of the genre. Conversely, some of his serious concert pieces (música de concerto) attracted the opposite criticism of inappropriately introducing instruments such as the mandolin, marimba, accordion, mouth organ and electric guitar into the concert hall. In doing this, he was inspired by his friends from the world of popular music, including Jacob do Bandolim, Edu da Gaita and Chiquinho do Acordeom ("Accordion Chiquinho"), for each of whom he composed dedicated concert pieces.
Sound 43
2020s
- 2025
Marc-André Hamelin @ Ruhr Piano Festival 2025
Original Music Composer
1980s
- 1983
Perdoa-Me Por Me Traíres
Music
- 1981
They Don't Wear Black Tie
Music Director
1970s
- 1977
O Jogo da Vida
Music
1960s
- 1969
A Doce Mulher Amada
Orchestrator
- 1966
Onde a Terra Começa
Original Music Composer
- 1965
The Deceased
Original Music Composer
My Home Is Copacabana
Original Music Composer
- 1962
Esse Rio que Eu Amo
Music
Assassinato em Copacabana
Music
- 1960
Sai Dessa, Recruta
Original Music Composer
1950s
- 1959
Dona Xêpa
Music
O Homem do Sputnik
Music Director, Original Music Composer
Quem Roubou Meu Samba?
Original Music Composer
Eu Sou o Tal
Original Music Composer
- 1958
Shut Up, Etelvina
Music
O Camelô da Rua Larga
Original Music Composer
O Barbeiro Que Se Vira
Original Music Composer
- 1957
Rio, Northern Zone
Original Music Composer
O Noivo da Girafa
Original Music Composer
- 1956
Fuzileiro do Amor
Music
Quem Sabe... Sabe!
Original Music Composer
- 1955
O Feijão é Nosso
Original Music Composer
Rio, 100 Degrees F°
Original Music Composer
O Diamante
Original Music Composer
O Rei do Movimento
Original Music Composer
- 1954
Marujo Por Acaso
Original Music Composer
- 1952
Nadando em Dinheiro
Original Music Composer
Sai da Frente
Music
Tico-Tico no Fubá
Original Music Composer
- 1951
Pecado de Nina
Original Music Composer
- 1950
Estrela da Manhã
Music
1940s
- 1949
A Escrava Isaura
Music
- 1943
Entra na Farra
Orchestrator, Music
- 1942
Clay
Music Director, Music
O Dragãozinho Manso - Jonjoca
Original Music Composer
- 1940
Eternal Hope
Orchestrator
Pureza
Original Music Composer
1930s
- 1939
Onde Estás, Felicidade?
Music
- 1937
Maria Bonita
Music
- 1933
Rough Gang
Music
Appearances4
2020s
- 2020
Garoto - Vivo Sonhando
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2005
Coisa Mais Linda - Histórias e Casos da Bossa Nova
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1986
Brasília, Uma Sinfonia
Self
- 1980
Grandes Nomes
Self · 1 episode