Brazilian composer Antônio Francisco Braga was born in Rio de Janeiro on April 15, 1868. He studied with Luiz António de Moura and Carlos de Mesquita and is often referred to as “the father of music education” in Brazil. In 1886, he founded the Sociedade de Concertos Populares.

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When the Brazilian Republic was declared in 1889, his composition Hino à bandeira was adopted as the national anthem. Beginning in 1890, Braga studied with Jules Massenet at the Paris Conservatoire. After spending time in Germany and Italy, he returned to Brazil in 1900, where he taught at the Instituto Nacional de Música. He died in Rio on March 14, 1945.