BIOGRAPHY
He started his study of music at the Asilo dos Meninos Desvalidos (Asylum of the Helpless Boys) in Rio de Janeiro. Later, Braga had clarinet lessons with Antonio Luis de Moura and studied harmony and counterpoint with Carlos de Mesquita at the Rio de Janeiro Music Conservatory. From 1890 through 1895 Braga studied composition with Jules Massenet and harmony with Antoine Taudon at the Conservatory of Paris, in France. In 1896 he lived in Dresden, Germany, and went several times to Bayreuth in order to familiarize himself with Richard Wagner’s work. He was conductor and professor of harmony, counterpoint, fugue and composition at the Rio de Janeiro National Music Institute (1902-37) and artistic director and conductor at the Rio de Janeiro Society of Symphonic Concerts (1912-32). He’s the Patron of the Brazilian Music Academy’s Chair No. 32.