Joaquim Antônio da Silva Calado

Who was Joaquim Antônio da Silva Calado?

Joaquim Antônio da Silva Calado, Jr. was a Brazilian composer and flautist.

Da Silva is considered one of the creators of the choro genre of music. His band, O Choro do Callado, used an ebony flute, two viols and a cavaquinho, and was noted for facility at improvisation. Da Silva wrote and co-authored many choroes, as a new way of interpreting modinhas, lundus, waltzes and polkas. His work was an inspiration to his friend and pupil, Viriato Figueira, and his friend and band member, the female composer Chiquinha Gonzaga.