Francis Hime

Since the 1960s Francis Hime has ranked among the central figures shaping Brazilian popular music, having completed rigorous classical studies that led him to produce both symphonies and chamber compositions. His catalog has been interpreted by Tony Bennett, Leni Hall, Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Elizeth Cardoso, Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, Tamba Trio, Milton Nascimento, Nara Leão, Simone, Toquinho, and Ângela Maria. Several of his most durable collaborations with Chico Buarque yielded “Trocando em Miúdos,” “Passaredo,” “Meu Caro Amigo,” “Vai Passar,” “Atrás da Porta,” and “Pivete.” Partnerships with Vinicius de Moraes produced “Samba de Maria,” “Sem Mais Adeus,” “Anoiteceu,” and additional works. He supplied original scores for the films A Estrela Sobe, Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos, Lição de Amor, A Noiva da Cidade, and numerous others, while also writing for the stage. In his capacity as arranger he contributed to projects by Chico Buarque (for whom he additionally served as musical director on multiple albums), Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, MPB-4, Clara Nunes, Toquinho, and Georges Moustakis. His “Sinfonia No. 1” received its São Paulo premiere from the Orquestra Sinfônica de Campinas under Benito Juarez and was subsequently performed in Recife by the Orquestra Sinfônica de Pernambuco led by Osman Gióia.

Hime began classical piano lessons at age six. At sixteen he traveled to Lausanne for further training, only to return to Brazil upon hearing João Gilberto’s debut recording, captivated by the emerging bossa nova idiom. Four years afterward Wanda Sá recorded his “Sem Mais Adeus,” written with Vinicius de Moraes. Throughout the 1960s he played an active role in the era’s landmark festivals: Elis Regina performed his “Por Um Amor Maior” (with Ruy Guerra) at the 1965 I Festival de Música Popular Brasileira on TV Excelsior in São Paulo; Wilson Simonal introduced “Maria” (with Vinicius de Moraes) at the 1966 I Festival Internacional da Canção on TV Rio; Jair Rodrigues sang “Samba de Maria” (with Vinicius de Moraes) at the 1967 III Festival de Música Popular Brasileira on TV Record; and Cláudia delivered both “Tempo da Flor” and “Eu Te Amo, Amor” (both with Vinicius de Moraes) at that year’s II Festival Internacional da Canção in Rio. In 1968 Taiguara presented “A Grande Ausente” (with Paulo César Pinheiro) at the IV Festival de Música Popular Brasileira on TV Excelsior, while MPB-4 offered “Anunciação” (with Paulo César Pinheiro) at the III Festival Internacional da Canção. Hime served as musical director for the 1966 stage production Pois É featuring Maria Bethânia, Vinicius de Moraes, and Gilberto Gil, and the following year he and Dori Caymmi directed the music for Oduvaldo Viana Filho’s Dura Lex Sed Lex, No Cabelo Só Gumex. He moved to the United States in 1969 to study with Lalo Schifrin, returning in 1973 to release his debut album. After years of composing for theater and cinema, arranging for leading MPB artists, maintaining a solo recording career, and presenting concerts, he first conducted a symphony orchestra in 1993 at Rio’s Cecília Meirelles Hall, where he led his “Sinfonia No. 1.” In 2000 his “Sinfonia Para o Rio de Janeiro,” created with Paulo César Pinheiro and Geraldo Carneiro, was performed at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.