Fernando Lopes Graça

One of 20th century Portugal's most prominent composers, Fernando Lopes-Graça drew on Portuguese musical folklore in many works. He was sometimes known as the Portuguese Bartók, but his music had its own distinctive flavor. Lopes-Graça was born in Tomar, Portugal, on December 17, 1906. He began piano studies with a local teacher and then, in 1924, entered Portugal's National Conservatory in Lisbon, studying with Vianna da Motta, among others. After completing his composition degree in 1931, Lopes-Graça, a member of the Communist Party, was arrested and sent from Lisbon to the...