Brazilian composer and conductor Alberto Nepomuceno (1864-1920) was an important force in nationalizing Brazilian music. He studied in Rome, Vienna, Berlin and Paris. In Norway he married a pupil of Grieg. He is considered the first Brazilian composer to systematically use elements of Brazilian folk and popular music and the Portuguese language. He fought a long, ultimately successful battle with certain composers and critics opposing the Italianism which prevailed in Brazilian classical singing during his time.
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