Collection Summary
Alberto Nepomuceno Collection
1887-1988
(bulk 1894-1920)
1887-1988
(bulk 1894-1920)
ML31.N46
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920
approximately 150 items
6 boxes
3 linear feet
English
Collection material in Portuguese, English, German, Italian, and French
Music Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Alberto Nepomuceno was a Brazilian
composer, conductor, and teacher. The collection consists primarily of scores, most
of which are photocopies of holographs, including two operas, nine orchestral, and
twelve chamber and solo works, as well as approximately forty songs and other vocal
works. In addition, the collection contains several photographs of the composer and
his wife and other printed materials.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920--Manuscripts.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920--Photographs.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Abul.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Artemis.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Peças líricas.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Quartets, violins (2), viola, cello, no. 1, B minor.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Quartets, violins (2), viola, cello, no. 2, G minor.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Quartets, violins (2), viola, cello, no. 3, D minor.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Suite antiga.
Nepomuceno, Alberto, 1864-1920. Série brasileira.
Subjects
Chamber music--Scores.
Composers--Brazil--Photographs.
Music--Manuscripts--Facsimiles.
Operas--Scores.
Operas--Vocal scores.
Orchestral music--Scores.
Songs with piano.
Form/Genre
Art music.
Biographies.
Books.
Catalogs.
Chamber music.
Operas.
Photographs.
Scores.
Songs.
Suites.
Vocal scores.
Provenance
Bulk purchase, Sergio Nepomuceno Alvin Corrêa, 1993
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
Susana Salgado processed the Alberto Nepomuceno Collection in 1998 with assistance
from Rodney T. Todd. This finding aid was prepared with Corel WordPerfect 8. In
2003, Michael A. Ferrando coded and edited the finding aid with assistance from
Susana Salgado. Stephanie Akau edited the finding aid in 2020.
Transfers
Sound recordings from the Alberto Nepomuceno Collection have been transferred to the
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division, where
they are identified as part of the Alberto Nepomuceno Collection (MAVIS collection
no. 3995). These recordings are primarily 33-1/3 rpm LPs of symphonic, choral,
vocal, chamber music, and piano works performed and conducted by Brazilian
musicians.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright on the materials of the Alberto Nepomuceno Collection is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other
applicable international copyright laws.
Access and Restrictions
The Alberto Nepomuceno Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Performing Arts Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are
stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research
use. Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following
information: container number, Alberto Nepomuceno Collection, Music Division,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Sketch
Date
Event
1864 July 6
Born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil to Victor Augusto Nepomuceno
(1840-1880) and wife Maria Virginia de Oliveira Paiva (1846-1892)
1872
Began studying piano and violin with his father
1880
Began studying harmony with Maestro Euclides Fonseca
1881
Studied philosophy and German with Professor Tobias Barreto
1883
Played violin in the Santa Isabel Opera House orchestra
Joined the civic republican and abolitionist movement in Brazil
1885
Petitioned the Imperial Government for reactivation of his European
scholarship rescinded due to his political activities
Settled in Rio de Janeiro and toured Brazil with cellist Frederico
Nascimento
1886
Started teaching piano at Club Beethoven
Studied harmony with Miguel Cardozo
1887
Composed first works for piano, voice, and orchestra
1888 May
Premiered first major composition,
Dança de Negros
(later
Batuque
), for orchestra at the Club Iracema (Fortaleza)
1889
Enrolled at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome
1890 August
Enrolled at the Akademische Meister Schulle in Berlin to study
composition with Heinrich von Herzogenberg, a distinguished friend of Brahms
1891
Traveled to Vienna and attended concerts by Brahms and Hans von
Bülow
Studied with Theodor Lechetitzky and met Norwegian pianist Walborg
Rendtler Bang, a pupil of Grieg and Nepomuceno's future wife
1892
Transferred to Berlin's Stern Conservatory to study composition and
organ with Arnó Kleffel and piano with H. Ehrlich
1893 July
Married Walborg Rendtler Bang and resided for a time at Grieg's home in
Bergen
1894 April
Nominated Professor of Organ "ad absentio" at the National Institute of
Music (NIM) in Rio de Janeiro
1894
Attended Schola Cantorum's organ courses in Paris with Alexandre
Guilmant and met Camille Saint-Saëns, Charles Bordes, and Vincent D'Indy
1895 July
Returned to Rio de Janeiro and gave a concert as pianist, organist, and
conductor of his works at the NIM
1896
Nominated Professor of Composition at the NIM and conductor at the
Associaçao dos Concertos Populares
1897 August 1
Conducted the premiere of his works
Série Brasileira
,
Symphony in G minor
, and
As Uyáras
at the NIM's Festival Alberto Nepomuceno
1898 October 14
First opera,
Artemis
, premiered at the Teatro São Pedro de Alcântara
1902 July 12
Nominated Director of NIM
1904 October
Conducted the premiere of
O Garatuja
and welcomed Saint-Saëns to Brazil
1908
Organized and conducted a 26-concert series with premieres of French,
Russian, and Brazilian works
1909
Requested the Brazilian National Congress create a government-funded
national orchestra
1910
Traveled to Brussels, Geneva, and Paris on behalf of the government to
conduct Brazilian music
1913 June 30
World premiere of
Abul
at the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires
1915 April 15
Attended European premiere of
Abul
at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome
1916
Made a Portuguese translation of Schönberg's
Harmonielehre
and introduced it to the NIM
1919
Conducted final concerts at the Teatro Municipal and introduced Heitor
Villa-Lobos' works to the public
1920 February
Asked editor to publish Villa-Lobos' works
1920 June
Awarded the Gold Medal from King Albert of Belgium for his devotion to
Belgian welfare during the war
1920 September 23
Richard Strauss conducted the Vienna Philharmonic's performance of
Nepomucenos'
O Garatuja
1920 October 16
Died in Rio de Janeiro
Scope and Content Note
The Alberto Nepomuceno Collection spans the years 1887-1988, the bulk of which dates
from 1894 to 1920 and represents the development of Nepomuceno's career. He was
recognized as a pioneer among Brazilian classical musicians and the "father" of
musical nationalism in his country. In addition to being the first composer to
incorporate native themes and rhythms into Brazilian art music, he built a career as
a prominent teacher, theoretician, orchestra conductor, pianist and organist, and
musical administrator.
The [Music](CL1001) series
consists primarily of printed and photocopied scores, among them the original
Portuguese-Italian version of his opera
Abul
, printed in 1913, and a photocopied piano-vocal score of the
French-Portuguese version of the opera
Artemis
. The series also includes the full score of his
Série Brasileira
, whose last movement, "Batuque," was the first symphonic depiction of
Brazilian folk life, and the printed full score of the prelude O Garatuja, a work conducted and praised by Richard Strauss. The
composer's three major string quartets are found within the chamber music, and the
third in D minor, "Brasileiro," is an early example of Brazilian rhythms in art
music. The piano works range widely in style, from Suite
Antiga, which imitates Baroque keyboard music, to the Quatro Peças Lyricas, which begins in a Romantic style
but finishes with the syncopated rhythms and improvisation unique to the Brazilian
"choro."
The collection also contains a small amount of printed materials that comprise the
[Biographical
Materials](CL1002) series, and portraits of Nepomuceno and his wife are found in
the [Photographs](CL1003)
series.
Organization of the Alberto Nepomuceno Collection
The collection is arranged in three series:
-
[Music, 1887-1920](CL1001)
-
[ Biographical Materials,
1902-1988 ](CL1002)
-
[Photographs,
1895-1920](CL1003)
Container List
Box
Contents
1-5
Music, 1887-1920
1887-1920
The music series consists primarily of printed and photocopied scores, some
with parts and enclosures.
Organized as five subseries: [Chamber Works](CL10011003) ; [Orchestral Works](CL10011002) ; [Piano Works](CL10011005)
; [Songs](CL10011004) ;
[Stage
Works](CL10011001) . Arranged by title therein.
Chamber Works
3/1
Cançao, Manobra
Militar, Minueto
Transcribed by Isaias Savio
Printed score for guitar
3/2
Devaneio
Photocopy of printed score for violin
and piano; violin part
3/3
Erinnerung
(Souvenir)
Manuscript score for string quintet with
emendations
3/4
Offertoire
Photocopy of printed score for organ
3/5
Piano Trio in F-sharp
minor
Photocopy of printed score
3/6
Prece (Obra
Posthuma)
Arranged by Lambert Ribeiro
Photocopy of printed score for piano and
violin score
3/7
Prélude et
Fugue
Photocopy of printed score for organ or
harmonium
Romance
Photocopy of printed score for piano and
cello
3/9
String Quartet no. 1 in
B minor, 1890
1890
Photocopies of holograph score and
printed parts
3/10
String Quartet no. 2
in G minor 1891
1891
Photocopy of copyist score
Note: Inscribed "Berlin"
Laid in: Program from world premiere
3/11
String Quartet no. 3
in D minor, Brasileiro
Photocopy of copyist score and printed
parts
3/12
Tarantella
Photocopy of printed score for piano and
cello
Orchestral
Works
2/1
Adagio para
Cordas
Photocopy of copyist score
2/2
Andante Expressivo
Photocopy of copyist score
2/4
O Garatuja:
Préludio
Printed full score
2/5
Serenata
Photocopy of copyist full score
2/6
Série
Brasileira
Photocopy of printed full
score
2/3
Série Brasileira. 4.
Batuque, Danza de Negros
Photocopy of printed full score
2/7
Squerzo
(Scherzo)
Photocopy of copyist score
2/8
Suite Antiga, op. 11
Photocopy of copyist score
2/9
Valses Humoristiques
pour piano et orchéstre (Valsas Humorísticas)
Photocopy of manuscript full
score
2/9
Valses
Humoristiques pour piano et orchéstre (Valsas Humorísticas)
Photocopy of printed full score for two
pianos
Piano Works
5/6
1a. Mazurka
Printed score for piano
5/7
II. Nocturno para
piano
Photocopy of copyist score
5/10
Brasileira
Printed score for piano
5/11
Canção. Peças Infantís,
no. 1
Printed score for piano
5/12
Cloches de
Noël
Printed score for piano
5/13
Deux Morceaux
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/14
Devaneio, op. 27, no. 1
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/15
Five Small Pieces for
Left Hand
Typescript and manuscript score for
piano
5/16
Folha d'Album no. 1
Printed score for piano
5/17
Folha d'Album no. 2
Printed score for piano
5/18
Folha d'Album no. 3
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/19
Galhofeira, op. 13, no.
4
Printed score for piano
5/20
Improviso, op. 27, no. 2
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/21
Insistência no. 4. Serie
Peças Infantís
Printed score for piano
5/22
Manobra Militar,
Marcha
Printed score for piano
5/23
Melodia (Meia Força)
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/24
Nocturne for the Left
Hand Alone
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/25
Noturno
Printed score for piano
5/26
O Garatuja. Prelúdio,
1975
1975
Piano transcription by Francisco
Mignone
Printed score for piano
5/27
Peças Infantís. No. 3,
Menuet
Printed score for piano
5/28
Prece. Obra Postuma
Arranged by Barrozo Netto
Printed score for piano
5/8
Quatro Peças Lyricas, op.
13
Printed score for piano
5/9
Série Brasileira. Batuque
Arranged by J. Octaviano
Piano-conductor score
5/29
Sonata in F minor, op. 9
Two photocopies of the manuscript score
5/30
Suite Antique, op. 11
Printed score for piano
5/31
Thème et Variations, op.
28
Photocopy of printed score for piano
5/32
Une Fleur, Romance
Printed score for piano
5/33
Valse-Impromptu
Revised by Sérgio Nepomuceno A. Corrêa
Photocopy of manuscript score
5/34
Variations sur un Thème
Original, op. 29
Photocopy of printed score for piano
Songs
3/13
2
Cançôes: Coração triste, Philomela, op. 18, no. 1
Printed piano-vocal score
3/14
12 Cançôes
Printed score for piano and choir
Contents: As Uyáras, Medroso de Amor,
Madrigal, Coraçao Triste
3/15
A
Jangada, Cançao
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
3/16
Aime-moi
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
3/17
Antigas Modinhas Brasileiras
Printed piano-vocal score
3/18
Anoitece, op. 34, no. 2
Printed piano-vocal score
3/18
Ao Amanecer, op. 34, no. 1
Printed piano-vocal score
4/1
Ave Maria [no. 1]
Printed piano-vocal score
4/2
Ave Maria [no. 2]
Printed piano-vocal score
4/3
Ave Maria [no. 3]
Printed chorus-vocal score
4/4
Canção, op. 30, no. 2
Photocopy of printed of piano-vocal
score
4/5
Canção da Ausencia
Printed piano-vocal score
4/6
Canção de Amor (Liebeslied), op. 19, no. 2
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/7
Cantigas
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/8
Cantilena
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/9
Canto Nupcial
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/10
Cantos da Salamita
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/11
Coração Indeciso, op. 30. Canção, no. 1
Printed piano-vocal score
4/12
Cornetas
Photocopy of manuscript score for voice,
trumpet, and drums
4/13
Désirs d'Hiver
Printed piano-vocal score signed by
Sigrid Neopmuceno
4/14
Desterro
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/15
Dolor Supremus, op. 21, no. 2
Photocopy of piano-vocal score
4/16
Duas Cançoes. Amo-te Muito...
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/17
Duas Poesias, op. 26
Printed piano-vocal score
4/18
Duas Poesias, op. 31
Two printed piano-vocal scores; one
score has a photocopied page
4/19
Duas Poesias, op. 32. Sempre! Dôr Sem Consolo
Printed piano-vocal score
4/20
Einklang
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/21
Epithalamio
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/22
Gedicht
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/23
Herbst
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/24
Der Himmel, 1894
1894
Photocopy of holograph piano-vocal score
Note: Inscribed "Paris"
4/25
Hino Nacional
Music by Francisco Manuel de Silva;
adapted by Alberto Nepomuceno
Printed piano-vocal score
4/26
Hymno do Ceará
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/27
Ingemisco
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/28
Invoção á Cruz
Printed piano-vocal score
4/32
Mater Dolorosa, op. 14, no. 1
Printed piano-vocal score
4/30
Le Miroir d'Or
Photocopy of manuscript piano-vocal
score
4/33
Morta (Trovas do Morte)
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
4/29
Le Niracle de la Semence, Rragipoëme
Printed piano-vocal score
Contents: Four songs
4/34
Nossa Velhice
Printed piano-vocal score
Note: Cover missing
4/35
Numa Concha, Canção
Printed piano-vocal score
4/36
O Baile na Flor
Printed choral score
4/37
Occaso
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/38
Olha-me!
Printed piano-vocal score
Note: Signed by Sigrid Nepomuceno
4/40
Ora Dize-Me a Verdade, op. 12, no. 1
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/39
Oração ao Diabo, op. 20, no. 2
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/41
Perché?
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
3/14
Philomela
Printed score for piano and choir
Note: Volume 1 only
4/42
Razão e Amor (Obra Póstuma)
Printed piano-vocal score
4/43
Soneto, op. 21, no. 3
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/44
Sonhei, op. 19, no. 1
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/45
Trovas, op. 29, nos. 1 and 2
Two photocopies of printed piano-vocal
score
4/46
Tu és o Sol!, op. 14, no. 2
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
5/1
Un Soneto del Dante, 1887
1887
Photocopy of holograph piano-vocal score
with text on cover page
Note: Signed and dated by Sigrid
Nepomuceno
5/2
Versos II
Printed piano-vocal score
Note: Signed by Sigrid Nepomuceno
5/3
Wiege sie Sauft
Photocopy of holograph piano-vocal score
5/4
Der Wunde Ritter
Photocopy of copyist piano-vocal score
with lyrics on back
5/5
Xácara, op. 20, no. 1
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
4/31
Les Yeux Élus
Printed piano-vocal score
Note: Signed by Sigrid Nepomuceno
Stage Works
1/1
Abul, opera in 3 acts
Piano-vocal score, photocopies of
manuscript full scores of Act 2: Dança Sacra do Véu and "Interludio"
from Act 3
Note: Piano-vocal score dated and
signed by the composer, "Rio, 29 setembro 1913"
Laid in: Libretto by composer
1/2
Artémis, Episodio Lyrico em um Acto
Photocopy of printed piano-vocal score
and photocopy of manuscript full score of the Interludio
Laid in: Photocopy of libretto
6/1-9
Biographical Materials, 1902-1988
1864-1920
The biographical materials series consists of books, catalogs, and other
printed materials.
Arranged alphabetically by author and title therein.
6/1
Alberto Nepomuceno, Directeur de l'Institut
National de Musique, Rio de Janeiro
Photocopy
6/7
Almeida,
Zélia de. Perfil Biográfico do Maestro Alberto
Nepomuceno , Niterói, 1964
1964
6/4
Biblioteca
Nacional. Exposiçao Comemorativa do Centenário do
Nascimento de Alberto Nepomuceno, Rio de Janeiro, 1964
1964
6/5
Blume,
Friedrich, ed. Die Musik in Geschichte und
Gegenwart . Entry on Alberto Nepomuceno, Bärenreiter Kassel,
Basel, London, New York
Two photocopies
6/6
Conservatório de Música Alberto Nepomuceno. Atividades do Ano de 1963, Fortaleza, 1963 December
1963 December
6/2
Corrêa,
Sergio Nepomuceno Alvin. Alberto Nepomuceno,
Catalogo Geral, Secretaria da Cultura, 1985
1985
Laid in: Pictures
6/3
Corrêa,
Sergio Nepomuceno Alvin. Biography and comment about Nepomuceno's "O
Garatuja"
6/8
Ministerio
Da Cultura. Música Brasileira Para Orquestra,
Catálogo Geral, 1988
1988
6/9
Sadie,
Stanley, ed. The New Grove Dictionary of Music
and Musicians . London: Macmillan, 1980
1980
Two photocopied entries on Nepomuceno
6/10-17
Photographs, 1895-1920
1864-1920
The photographs series contains portraits of Alberto Nepomuceno and his
wife, Walborg Rendtler Bang.
Arranged chronologically
6/10
A.
Nepomuceno, 1898
1898
6/12
A.
Nepomuceno in Norway, 1900
1900
Mounted photocopy
6/11
A.
Nepomuceno, 1908
1908
6/13
A.
Nepomuceno, 1910
1910
6/15
A.
Nepomuceno, 1918
1918
Mounted photocopy
6/16
A.
Nepomuceno, last photo, 1918
1918
Mounted photocopy
6/14
A.
Nepomuceno in front of the National Institute of Music, undated
undated
Mounted photocopy
6/17
Walborg Reutler Bang, undated
undated
Mounted photocopy