Sonho Op.5 for piccolo and piano

Pattápio Silva (1880–1907) was a legendary Afro-Brazilian flutist and composer who became one of the first true "stars" of the Brazilian recording industry. Though his career was tragically cut short, he remains a foundational figure in the development of the Choro genre and a national icon of the flute.
Born in Itaocara, Rio de Janeiro, he was the son of a shoemaker. He initially worked as a typesetter while teaching himself to play the flute on a simple wooden instrument.
His talent was so undeniable that he was admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Música (now the UFRJ School of Music) in 1901. He studied under the renowned professor Duque-Estrada Meyer and completed the entire flute course in an unprecedented six months, graduating with a Gold Medal.
Between 1902 and 1904, Silva was among the first artists to record for the Casa Edson and the Gramophone Company (Victor) in Brazil. The recordings of his own works, such as Evocação and Primeiro Amor, captured his extraordinary technique, characterized by a powerful tone (the "Pattápio Sound"), precise articulation, and a unique "singing" quality that bridged the gap between classical and popular styles.
Silva’s music is a sophisticated blend of late-19th-century European salon music (waltzes, polkas, and romances) and the emerging rhythmic syncopations of Brazilian Choro.
At the peak of his fame, Silva contracted a sudden illness (variously reported as diphtheria or a sudden infection) and died in Belo Horizonte in 1907 at the age of 26.