José Bragato facts for kids

José Bragato (born October 12, 1915 – died July 18, 2017) was an amazing musician. He was born in Italy but became an Argentine cellist, composer, and conductor. He also arranged music and helped keep musical records.

Early in his career, he was the main cellist in the famous Colón Theatre orchestra in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Besides classical music, he played for many years in Ástor Piazzolla's Nuevo tango (New tango) groups. His cello solos were special because the cello had never been a main instrument in tango music before. This made him a leader in Nuevo tango from the 1950s. He also created many arrangements of Piazzolla's songs.

About His Life

His Early Years

José Bragato was born in Udine, Italy, in 1915. He came from a family of musicians. His father, Enrico, and his father's older brother, Giuseppe, both played the flute. José had two older sisters, Vera and Dina, and two brothers, Bruno and Enrique.

In 1925, José started studying music at the Jacopo Tomadini Conservatory in Udine. He sang in the choir and later learned to play the piano. His brother, Bruno, studied the flute there.

Moving to Argentina

Life was difficult in Italy after the First World War. In 1927, José's father, Enrico, and older brother, Bruno, moved to Argentina. They first settled in Saavedra, a neighborhood in northern Buenos Aires. José, his mother, and his other siblings joined them the next year.

José kept studying piano. In 1930, his brother Bruno joined the orchestra at the Colón Theatre as a flutist. His father was also playing flute in different city orchestras. That same year, Buenos Aires had a big flood from the River Plate. The Bragato family lost everything, including José's piano.

In 1930, a friend of Bruno's from the Colón Theatre orchestra helped José. This friend, Ernst Peltz, was a German cellist and teacher. He gave José free cello lessons and even lent him a cello. With this cello, José entered the Manuel de Falla National Conservatory of Music. Around this time, his younger brother Enrique started learning the violin. But he soon switched to the bassoon. In 1936, the family moved to Córdoba Avenue in the center of Buenos Aires.

Starting His Career

José first performed in public around 1935. He played Argentine and Paraguayan folk music. He also played classical music with his brothers and father. In 1937, he played in several tango and jazz orchestras. One of his first jobs as a cellist was in Mario Maurano's tango orchestra. Later, he played in the orchestra of Juan de Dios Filiberto with his father Enrico. José also played with Paraguayan orchestras, like those of José Asunción Flores and Francisco Alvarenga.

In 1946, he joined the Colón Theatre orchestra as a cellist. In the same year, he became the main cellist in the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also one of its founding members. Two years later, he left to become the main cellist in the Colón Theatre orchestra. At the same time, José played cello in several chamber music groups. These included the Buenos Aires Quartet and the Carlos Pessina Quartet. He also played in tango orchestras, like the Orquesta Francini-Pontier. He was also starting to compose his own music.

In 1950, he began to conduct orchestras. He also arranged music for different radio stations, including the National Radio Orchestra. He helped start the Channel 13 orchestra with Lucio Milena. He also joined Leo Lipesker and the Primer Cuarteto de Cámara del Tango.

During this time, he joined the tango orchestra of Atilio Stampone. He was also asked to play in recording sessions with the tango orchestras of Aníbal Troilo and Osvaldo Fresedo.

The New Tango Sound

In 1955, Ástor Piazzolla formed his Octeto Buenos Aires and Orquesta de Cuerdas (String Orchestra). He asked José to play the cello as a solo instrument in these Nuevo tango groups. Before this, only the violin was used as a solo string instrument in tango. Nuevo tango brought new harmonies and melodies. It changed the sound of tango forever. From then on, José greatly admired Piazzolla and became a close friend. Piazzolla later wrote a tango song called Bragatissimo for him. This was a tribute to their long friendship.

Between 1956 and 1957, José made several recordings with the Octeto and the Orquesta. He later joined Piazzolla's Nuevo Octeto, Conjunto 9, and his New Tango Sextet. This was Piazzolla's last group. Besides playing with Piazzolla, José spent a lot of time arranging Piazzolla's music. He made arrangements for duos, trios, string quartets, and full orchestras. These arrangements helped bring tango music to people all over the world.

Years Away From Home

From 1976 to 1982, Argentina was under military rule. During this time, José left Argentina. He became the main cellist in the Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre (OSPA) in Brazil. Three years after leaving Argentina, he joined the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Natal, Brazil. There, he was part of the Quartetto UFRN. He played with violinist Won Mo Kin, violinist Reinaldo Couto, and violist Mark Cedel. While in Brazil, he started several classical music archives. He also conducted several chamber music groups. At the same time, he became known for arranging Paraguayan folk music. This included guaranias and polkas.

Later Life

In 1982, José returned to Argentina. He was chosen to be a music advisor for the Argentine popular music archives of SADAIC. SADAIC is the Argentine Society of Music Authors and Composers. It helps share the music of Argentine composers worldwide. They provide free sheet music to non-profit music and educational groups.

His last solo performance was when he was 80 years old. He played with the Atilio Stampone group at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He was playing for the Argentine ballet dancer Julio Bocca and his dance company.

His song Graciela y Buenos Aires is a tango for cello and string orchestra. It has become a very popular symphonic tango piece in Europe. His works are played widely there.

José Bragato passed away on July 18, 2017, at the age of 101.

Awards and Honors

• Honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
• Francisco Canaro Award for his career, given by SADAIC in 1999.
• Prize "Merito a la Trayectoria" (Merit for Career) from the City of Buenos Aires, 1999.
• Latin Grammy Award in 2002. He won as a composer and arranger of Piazzolla's music for string quartets.
• "Due Mondi" (Two Worlds) award from Friuli, Italy.

His Compositions

• A Mauricio (Guarania y Galopa Paraguaya)
• A un Amigo
• Amo Ka Aru lado
• Ave Maria Andina
• Campanas de la Encarnacion
• Chacarera
• Cuatro Fragmentos Liricos
• Cuatro Bocetos Sobre Ritmos
• Dos Canciones Argentinas
• Dos Canciones sobre Ritmos Paraguayos
• El Instante Anhelado
• El Vals de Laura Andrea
• Elsita
• Fantasía Folklórica
• Farra Jhape Sapucai
• Flauta Retozona
• Graciela y Buenos Aires
• Impressionista
• In Memoriam
• Leitmotiv
• Lis Ciancons Che Ciantave Me Mari
• Luz Del Corazón
• Malambo
• Marcha Funebre Para Mis Padres
• Melodía Para Mis Padres
• Mi Paraguay
• Milontan
• Minibi Retia E
• Nieblas
• Noposepe
• Para Adriana
• Para Candy
• Para Gina
• Paraguay - Yasî Retá
• Saudade
• Sé Que Te Perdí
• Solo Una Vez
• Suite For Strings
• Techagaú
• Tres Canciones Paraguayas
• Tres Movimientos Porteños
• Triste y Zamba
• Tu Silencio
• Vanguardista
• Villancico

See also

In Spanish: José Bragato para niños