The son of a barber in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, Camargo Guarnieri worked as a jobbing pianist for silent films, taking private lessons in composition. A scholarship enabled him to study with Koechlin in Paris, where he met a number of leading figures in musical life. In 1939 the outbreak of war compelled him to return to Brazil, where he continued his career as a conductor and composer, a strong advocate of music derived from the varied folk material of his country.

Vocal, Instrumental and Orchestral Music

Guarnieri, regarded as second only to Villa-Lobos in Brazil, wrote vocal and instrumental music. His compositions for orchestra include seven symphonies, two violin concertos and six piano concertos. These last, written over a period of 40 years, reflect his Brazilian inspiration and, after his period in Paris, his confidence in orchestration.