Ernesto Júlio Nazareth (March 20, 1863 Rio de Janeiro - February 4, 1934 Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro) was a Brazilian composer and pianist, especially noted for his creative tango and Choro compositions.
Ernesto Nazareth was one of 38 children of his parents. He published his first composition at age 14.
Nazareth was noted for creatively combining diverse influences into his music, not only of Brazilian music but also from the music of Europe, Africa and ragtime. Many of his compositions remain part of the repertory today.
Nazareth composed 88 tangos, 41 waltzes, 28 polkas and numerous sambas, galops, quadrilles, Schottisches, fox-trots, romances and other types of scores, totaling 212 confirmed compositions.
After a period of mental instability, due to the deaths of his wife and daughter and worsening hearing problems, Nazareth became ill in 1932 and died two years later.
