Francis Hime

by Alvaro NederAn important composer of Brazilian popular music since the '60s, Francis Hime received classical music education and has written symphonies and chamber music. Among the artists who have recorded his songs are Tony Bennett, Leni Hall, Bill Evans, Kenny Burrell, Elizeth Cardoso, Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, Tamba Trio, Milton Nascimento, Nara Leão, Simone, Toquinho, and Ângela Maria. With Chico Buarque, Hime would write songs of the quality of "Trocando em Miúdos," "Passaredo," "Meu Caro Amigo," "Vai Passar," "Atrás da Porta," and "Pivete." He has also worked with Vinicius de Moraes on "Samba de Maria," "Sem Mais Adeus," and "Anoiteceu," among others. Hime also wrote music for the films A Estrela Sobe, Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos, Lição de Amor, A Noiva da Cidade, and several others, having also composed for theater. As an arranger, Hime worked for Chico Buarque (also serving as the musical director on several of his LPs), Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, MPB-4, Clara Nunes, Toquinho, and Georges Moustakis. His "Sinfonia No. 1" was presented in São Paulo by the Orquestra Sinfônica de Campinas, conducted by Benito Juarez; and in Recife (Pernambuco) by the Orquestra Sinfônica de Pernambuco, conducted by Osman Gióia. Francis Hime started to learn classical piano at six. At 16, he went to Lausanne (Switzerland) to further studies, returning to Brazil after João Gilberto's first release, impressed by the new sound. Four years later, Wanda Sá recorded his "Sem Mais Adeus" (with Vinicius de Moraes). Hime had active participation in the historic festivals of the '60s. In 1965, Elis Regina interpreted his "Por Um Amor Maior" (with Ruy Guerra) in the I Festival de Música Popular Brasileira/FMPB (Brazilian Popular Music Festival, TV Excelsior, São Paulo); Wilson Simonal presented "Maria" (with Vinicius de Moraes), in 1966, at the I Festival Internacional da Canção/FIC (International Song Festival, TV Rio); in the next year, Jair Rodrigues interpreted "Samba de Maria" (with Vinicius de Moraes) at the III Festival de Música Popular Brasileira/FMPB (TV Record, São Paulo), and Cláudia sang "Tempo da Flor" (with Vinicius de Moraes) and "Eu Te Amo, Amor" (with Vinicius de Moraes) at the II Festival Internacional da Canção/FIC (Rio de Janeiro). In 1968, Taiguara presented "A Grande Ausente" (with Paulo César Pinheiro) at the IV Festival de Música Popular Brasileira/FMPB (TV Excelsior, São Paulo), and MPB-4 interpreted "Anunciação" (with Paulo César Pinheiro) at the III Festival Internacional da Canção/FIC (Rio). Hime was also the musical director for the show Pois É (with Maria Bethânia, Vinicius de Moraes, and Gilberto Gil in 1966) and the next year, he and Dori Caymmi were the music directors of the play Dura Lex Sed Lex, No Cabelo Só Gumex (Oduvaldo Viana Filho). Departing for the U.S. in 1969, where he studied with Lalo Schifrin, Hime returned in 1973 to record his first LP. Having had intense activity writing music for plays, cinema, and arrangements for top MPB artists, along with his own solo discography and shows, Hime conducted a symphonic orchestra for the first time in 1993 at the Cecília Meirelles Hall (Rio), performing his "Sinfonia No. 1." In 2000, his "Sinfonia Para o Rio de Janeiro" (with Paulo César Pinheiro/Geraldo Carneiro) was presented at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.