José Ursicino da Silva "Maestro Duda"

"Jos​é Ursicino da Silva was largely self-taught and has created more works of substantial quality for brass instruments than any other Brazilian composer. His compositions are true masterworks that warrant their inclusion into the standard repertory of brass repertoire in Brazil. Widely known by the pen name “Duda,” he began his musical studies at the age of ten playing clarinet in a brass band. In 1963 he joined the Recife Symphony Orchestra as an arranger, where he had the chance to exert his arranging and composing skills in a more challenging environment. In 1998,Duda was selected as Brazil’s best arranger of the century in a nationwide competition. Duda has recently begun to receive more acclaim for his outstanding work as a composer, arranger and bandleader; as an example, Recife’s Carnival (2010) was in Duda’s tribute. The Quintet Brassil has recorded many of Duda’s brass works, including adaptations of many of his compositions for solo trumpet. He has made over one hundred recordings of traditional, popular, and folk music in Brazil."
​-  ​ liner notes to "Braziliana" album by NordesTrio.  Copyright © 2021 Fundamental Sounds
www.fundamentalsounds.com/artist/nordestrio/