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Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Francisco Mignone
Person · male · Brazil · São Paulo · born 1897 · died 1986 · recording since 2004
Brazilian composer (1897–1986)
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Also known as Chico Bororó · Francisco Paulo Mignone · Francisco Paulo Mignone · 弗朗西斯科·米戈农
Timeline
15 events▣ Album 12◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1890s
1980s
2000s
· Debut release
Debut release: Maracatu de Chico Rei / Festa das Igrejas / Sinfonia Tropical
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography753 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1360793145
Biography
Francisco Paulo Mignone (September 3, 1897, São Paulo – February 19, 1986, Rio de Janeiro) was a Brazilian composer, pianist and conductor. He was one of the most significant figures in Brazilian classical music, and one of the most significant Brazilian composers after Heitor Villa-Lobos. In 1968 he was chosen as Brazilian composer of the year.
Life and career
A graduate of the São Paulo Conservatory and then of the Milan Conservatory, Mignone returned to São Paulo in 1929 to teach harmony, and in 1933 took a post in Rio de Janeiro at the Escola Nacional de Música. Mignone was a versatile composer, dividing his output nearly evenly between solo songs, piano pieces, chamber instrumental works, orchestral works, and choral works. In addition, he wrote five operas and eight ballets.
Son of the Italian immigrant flutist Alferio Mignone, Francisco was already making his mark upon the musical world of Brazil by the time he was 10 years old, gaining notoriety around his district playing in the choro style. A pianist and orchestra leader at 13, he had gained some fame composing and playing under the pseudonym of Chico Bororó, keeping these activities separate from his formal music training. His works may be divided into three compositional periods. His early works show the Italian influences and Romantic sensibilities of his training in Milan. An orchestral piece from his first opera of this early period was premiered in Rio de Janeiro by Richard Strauss conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, in 1923.
Much of Mignone's music is strongly nationalistic in flavor; influenced by the nationalistic movement of his former schoolmate and teacher, the musicologist and writer Mário de Andrade, Mignone uses the folk and popular melodies and forms of his native Brazil as a basis for his compositions. (Andrade reportedly said, "In Italian music, Mignone will be one more among a rich and numerous school, to which he does not add anything. Here, he will be of indispensable value.") From 1929 until 1960 his work was most strongly characterized by this nationalism, during which he composed such pieces as the Fantasias Brasileiras and his ballets Maracatu do Chico Rei and Leilão. His solo vocal and piano works of this time earned him particular acclaim for their expression of Brazilian musical styles, such as the choro, the modinha, and the valsas (waltzes) reminiscent of strolling serenaders.
Mignone's music is noted for its lyricism, colorful instrumentation, and improvisatory style. Most of his early works are tonal, as is typical of the popular and folk music, though later in his career he branched out into polytonal, atonal, and serial writing. In the late 1950s Mignone drifted away from the nationalistic music and toward the then-current trends in academic concert music, composing works such as his 1958 Piano Concerto, which showcase his skillful instrumentation and bravura writing. Mignone was capable of writing in a variety of styles and his works of the early 1960s and beyond are noted for their eclecticism; it is difficult to find any other unifying feature. However, he returned to nationalistic writing toward his last few years.
Mignone married Liddy Chiafarelli Mignone, who died in a plane crash in 1962. Later, he married Maria Josephina Mignone with whom he frequently played duets. His students included the Brazilian composers Maria Matos Priolli, Hilda Pires dos Reis, and Clorinda Rosato.
Mignone died in Rio de Janeiro, age 88. His wife, who founded the Francisco Mignone Cultural Center and continued to perform and interpret his music, died in July 2024, aged 101.
Notable works
O contratador de diamantes, opera, 1921
Congada (from O contratador), orchestra, 1921
L'innocente, opera, 1928
Seis líricas, vocal, 1932
Maracatu do Chico Rei, ballet, 1933
Variações sobre um tema brasileiro, cello and orchestra, 1935
Fantasias brasileiras nos.1–4, piano and orchestra, 1929-1936
Babaloxá, orchestra, 1936
Mizú, operetta, 1937
Quatro líricas, vocal, 1938
Festa das igrejas, orchestra, 1940
Leilão, ballet, 1941
O espantalho, ballet, 1941
Iara, ballet, 1942
Pousa a mão na minha testa, vocal, 1942
Valsas de esquina nos.1–12, piano, 1938–43
O guarda chuva, ballet, 1953
Valsas choros 1–12, piano, 1946–55
Piano Concerto, 1958
Tres Valsas Brasileiras (1968) Viola e Piano
Sugestões sinfônicas, tone poem-ballet, 1969
Doze Estudos, guitar, 1970
12 Valsas para Violão , guitar, 1970
Variações em busca de um tema, orchestra, 1972
O chalaça, opera, 1973
O sargento de milícias, opera, 1978
Quincas Berro d'Agua, ballet, 1979
Valsa brasileira nos.4–12, piano, 1979
O Caçador de esmeraldas, ballet, 1980
16 valsas para fagote solo, bassoon, 1982
Recordings
Francisco Mignone: 12 Studies for Guitar (Da Vinci C00614), played by Cyro Delvizio
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 16 | 74.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 12 | 83.4th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | -18 | 8.2th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (12 release groups · 12 studio albums)
Albums · 12
Maracatu de Chico Rei / Festa das Igrejas / Sinfonia Tropical
2004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:12:14
1Festa das igrejas: I. São Francisco da Bahia6:382Festa das igrejas: II. Rosário de Ouro Preto – Minas5:183Festa das igrejas: III. O Outerinho da Glória – Rio de Janeiro7:504Festa das igrejas: IV. Nossa Senhora do Brasil – Aparecida4:555Sinfonia Tropical19:366Maracatu de Chico Rei: I. Introduction. Allegro2:217Maracatu de Chico Rei: II. Arrival of the Maracatu2:218Maracatu de Chico Rei: III. Dance of the Mucambas. Molto vivo2:479Maracatu de Chico Rei: IV. Dance of the Three Macotas. Allegro moderato2:4710Maracatu de Chico Rei: V. Dance of King Chico and Queen N'Ginga. Moderato3:0611Maracatu de Chico Rei: VI. Dance of Prince Samba-Eb. Mosso1:5512Maracatu de Chico Rei: VII. Dance of the Six Slaves. Molto moderato5:4513Maracatu de Chico Rei: VIII. Dance of the White Princes. Gavotta2:5714Maracatu de Chico Rei: IX. The Liberation of the Slaves – Final Dance. Allegro vivacissimo – Tempo de Samba3:582007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 33 tracks · 1:16:38
1Congada3:092Seis Preludios: I. Andantino1:323Seis Preludios: II. Allegro0:554Seis Preludios: III. Allegro1:035Seis Preludios: IV. Calmo e Sereno2:026Seis Preludios: V. Moderato2:487Seis Preludios: VI. Caicaras: Solenne2:598Valsa de Esquina No. 82:399Valsa de Esquina No. 124:1910Lenda Sertaneja No. 26:2011Ssrenata Humoristica2:1012Danca Do Botocudo3:0513No Fondo Do Meu Quintal1:3214Quando Eu Era Pequenino1:5315Cinco Pecas Para Piano: I. A Orfazinha2:2916Cinco Pecas Para Piano: II. Formiguinhas Trabalhando0:5517Cinco Pecas Para Piano: III. A Ra e O Sapo1:5018Cinco Pecas Para Piano: IV. Hoje Nao Tem Aula1:1219Cinco Pecas Para Piano: V. O Gato e O Rato0:4720Valsa-Choro No. 111:1821Valsa-Choro No. 122:2922Sonatina No. 4: I. Allegro Non Troppo3:4523Sonatina No. 4: II. Allegro Con Umore2:0124Estudos Transcendentais: I. Velho Tema2:0525Estudos Transcendentais: II. A Morte de Anhanguera2:5926Estudos Transcendentais: III. A Voz Da Floresta3:0427Estudos Transcendentais: IV. No Coqueiral2:2628Estudos Transcendentais: V. A Menina Dos Cabelos Cor de Grauna2:0329Estudos Transcendentais: VI. Saci1:1430Valsa Brasileira No. 33:0131Valsa Brasileira No. 242:2832Caterete2:1033Cucumbizinho1:56Brasileiro: Works of Francisco Mignone
2012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:00:29
1String Quartet no. 2: I. Allegro5:232String Quartet no. 2: II. Seresta6:263String Quartet no. 2: III. Desafio4:104Seresta no. 24:085String Quartet no. 1: I. Allegro deciso6:436String Quartet no. 1: II. Andante5:237String Quartet no. 1: III. Rondo. Allegretto grazioso e amabile3:558Barcarola4:529O Contratador de Diamantes: Minueto2:22103 Spanish Songs: I. Nana2:17113 Spanish Songs: II. Por qué lloras morenita1:12123 Spanish Songs: III. Las mujeres son las moscas1:09132 Essays: I. Andante cantabile6:15142 Essays: II. Moderato6:142013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 29 tracks · 1:19:06
1Valsa chôro no. 12:352Valsa chôro no. 22:283Valsa chôro no. 32:344Valsa chôro no. 42:245Valsa chôro no. 52:536Valsa chôro no. 62:377Valsa chôro no. 72:238Valsa chôro no. 82:159Valsa chôro no. 92:3010Valsa chôro no. 102:3511Valsa chôro no. 111:3912Valsa chôro no. 122:3313Cateretê2:1114Danca do Botocudo3:4915Valsa de esquina no. 12:5116Valsa de esquina no. 23:1717Valsa de esquina no. 31:5918Valsa de esquina no. 41:4719Valsa de esquina no. 52:2120Valsa de esquina no. 62:0921Valsa de esquina no. 74:0022Valsa de esquina no. 82:1923Valsa de esquina no. 93:5724Valsa de esquina no. 103:1125Valsa de esquina no. 112:4826Valsa de esquina no. 124:0927Tango4:0328Marvadinho (Tango)1:2529Congada3:242022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 50:14
1Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 1, Vivo3:392Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 2, Seresteiro4:593Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 3, Tempo de chorinho2:044Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 4, Allegro scherzoso3:345Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 5, Vagaroso5:136Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 6, Assai vivo2:337Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 7, Molto lento2:508Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 8, Allegro3:169Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 9, Allegro moderato6:4010Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 10, Lento e com muito sentimento3:1811Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 11, Andante2:1312Twelve Studies for Guitar: No. 12, Com velocidade4:4313Fantasia On A Theme By Francisco Mignone5:122022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 31 tracks · 1:40:03
110 Studies for Guitar: I. Presto Possible2:07210 Studies for Guitar: II. Valsa Seresteira2:39310 Studies for Guitar: III. Moderato2:02410 Studies for Guitar: IV. Lento Espressivo2:06510 Studies for Guitar: V. Allegretto2:10610 Studies for Guitar: VI. Ritmado1:18710 Studies for Guitar: VII. Comodo1:44810 Studies for Guitar: VIII. Moderato e poco Rubato3:03910 Studies for Guitar: IX. Lento2:511010 Studies for Guitar: X. Dolente2:40113 Concert Studies for Guitar: I. Dansa Brasileira4:05123 Concert Studies for Guitar: II. Tocata em forma de samba No. 14:38133 Concert Studies for Guitar: III. Tocata em forma de samba No. 23:2814Petite Suite: I. Pastoral2:1215Petite Suite: II. Toada2:4116Petite Suite: III. Frevo1:2217Brasiliana no. 13: I. Samba bossa – Nova4:0718Brasiliana no. 13: II. Valsa3:4119Brasiliana no. 13: III. Choro1:572012 Studies for Guitar: I. Vivo4:082112 Studies for Guitar: II. Seresteiro4:242212 Studies for Guitar: III. Tempo de Chorinho2:012312 Studies for Guitar: IV. Allegro Scherzoso3:512412 Studies for Guitar: V. Vagaroso5:512512 Studies for Guitar: VI. Assai Vivo3:002612 Studies for Guitar: VII. Molto Lento4:012712 Studies for Guitar: VIII. Allegro3:302812 Studies for Guitar: IX. Allegro Moderato6:532912 Studies for Guitar: X. Lento e com muito Sentiment3:363012 Studies for Guitar: XI. Andante2:193112 Studies for Guitar: XII. Com Velocidade5:38Francisco Mignone’s 12 Etudes for Guitar
2022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 59:27
1Lenda Sertaneja - Legend From the Backlands3:312Estudo No. 1, Cantando3:373Estudo No. 2, Seresteiro5:564Estudo No. 3, Tempo de Chorinho2:215Estudo No. 4, Allegro Scherzoso3:526Estudo No. 5, Vagaroso - Calmo e Sereno6:167Estudo No. 6, Assai Vivo2:498Estudo No. 7, Cantiga de Ninar, Molto Lento4:299Estudo No. 8, Allegro3:1710Estudo No. 9, Allegro Moderato5:3311Estudo No. 10, Lento e com Muito Sentimento5:1012Estudo No. 11, Spleen, Andante3:0713Estudo No. 12, com Velocidade5:2114Brazilian Song - Canção Brasileira4:08Piano Music of Francisco Mignone
2023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 23 tracks · 1:07:33
1Lenda sertaneja, No. 8 (Version for Piano)2:222Cucumbizinho2:083Valse élégante2:154Sonatina No. 1: I. Andante moderato2:195Sonatina No. 1: II. Allegro moderato2:016Lenda sertaneja, No. 6 (Version for Piano)3:217Serenada Humorística2:358Congada3:079Sonatina No. 2: I. Muito simples2:4510Sonatina No. 2: II. Allegro ma non troppo1:4811Lenda sertaneja, No. 4 (Version for Piano)2:3612Tango3:5113Quartro peças Brasileiras: I. Moroco1:5814Quartro peças Brasileiras: II. Maxixando1:2915Quartro peças Brasileiras: III. Nazareth1:2916Quartro peças Brasileiras: IV. Toada1:4817Sonatina No. 3: I. Andantino - Vivo3:4218Sonatina No. 3: II. Allegretto - Allegro4:2319Valsa de esquina, No. 13:3620Paulistana7:3721Sonatina No. 4: I. Alleretto non troppo4:1022Sonatina No. 4: II. Allegro con umore2:082312 Valsas de Esquina: No. 12, Valsa em Fa menor4:052024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:12:21
1Guitar Concerto: I. Allegro moderato12:432Guitar Concerto: II. Lento e molto romantico5:153Guitar Concerto: III. Allegro non troppo4:384Clarinet Concertino: I. Lento – Moderato mosso4:305Clarinet Concertino: II. Toada. Andantino non troppo2:456Clarinet Concertino: III. Final. Allegro3:167Bassoon Concertino: I. Assai moderato4:248Bassoon Concertino: II. Allegro4:509Violin Concerto: I. Allegro moderato10:0310Violin Concerto: II. Lento12:1411Violin Concerto: III. Allegro con brio7:432024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 57:09
1Valsa no. 1 in C minor3:052Valsa no. 2 in C‐sharp minor2:353Valsa no. 3 in D minor5:344Valsa no. 4 in E‐flat minor3:595Valsa no. 5 in E minor3:596Valsa no. 6 in F minor2:547Valsa no. 7 in F‐sharp minor2:308Valsa no. 8 in G minor2:409Valsa no. 9 in A‐flat minor4:0710Valsa no. 10 in A minor3:4011Valsa no. 11 in B‐flat minor3:5712Valsa no. 12 in B minor4:1713Repinicando2:0314Minueto‐Fantasia3:1815Choro1:2716Modinha2:0217Brazilian Song1:5418Lenda sertaneja3:082025 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:25:35
1Violin Sonata no. 1: I. Lento5:082Violin Sonata no. 1: II. Allegretto amabile4:223Violin Sonata no. 1: III. Moderato energico7:294Violin Sonata no. 2: Moderato – Intermezzo: Calmo e con ponderazione – Recitativo – Finale: Allegro14:195Violin Sonata no. 3: I. Allegro tranquillo6:396Violin Sonata no. 3: II. Andante molto sostenuto4:537Violin Sonata no. 3: III. Rondó. Allegro scherzoso5:318Violin Sonata in A Major: I. Allegro moderato8:549Violin Sonata in A Major: II. Andante8:1210Violin Sonata in A Major: III. Allegro non troppo ma deciso10:5911Violin Sonata in G Major: Allegro deciso9:09Fantasias Brasileiras nos. 1–4 / Burlesca e Toccata
2025 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 58:03
1Fantasia Brasileira no. 110:092Fantasia Brasileira no. 210:033Fantasia Brasileira no. 311:234Fantasia Brasileira no. 412:155Burlesca e Toccata14:13
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Francisco Mignone head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 16 | 74.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 12 | 83.4th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | -18 | 8.2th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francisco_Mignone%2C_1972.tifaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/6db0064a-6b54-4ffc-9196-7cdb9d89ba3fdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/6db0064a-6b54-4ffc-9196-7cdb9d89ba3fcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q716174genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q716174seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Mignonebiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Mignone
Why this artist is in the database
- List of Brazilian musicians
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Unknown Unknown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q716174 · MusicBrainz: 6db0064a-6b54-4ffc-9196-7cdb9d89ba3f
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