Ernesto Nazareth

Ernesto Júlio de Nazareth (1863-1934) was a classically trained Brazilian composer and pianist who straddled the worlds of classical and popular music in his country. His music is almost entirely for piano, encompassing influences from Europe, Africa, and the Americas, which is to say it is distinctly Brazilian. He died from drowning, three days after running away from the insane asylum where he had been committed.