Ex. 2-15: A sereia

Composed in 1887, with words by the novelist and playwright Aluízio de Azevedo. First published in the magazine "A Semana" (No. 127, 4 June 1887).

A printed copy of the score was found among the personal papers of Rui Barbosa, a prominent Brazilian politician. This is a curious fact. Much of Gonzaga's music was popular dance music, such as choro, which the upper class at the time considered not respectable. In 1914 the First Lady played Gonzaga's "Corta-jaca" on guitar at the presidential palace. The evening became a scandal, and Barbosa attacked the music in a speech in the Senate. Yet he kept a copy of this song among his own papers.

IMSLP