Brazilian composer Ary Barroso wrote the samba “Aquarela do Brasil.”
Barroso composed the song in 1939, and Francisco Alves made the first recording that year. Its patriotic imagery helped make it one of the best-known Brazilian popular songs internationally, although it was not created as a particular Rio samba-school parade theme.
The song is often associated with Carnival and Brazilian cultural imagery because of its samba rhythm, orchestral arrangements, and references to Brazil. It later gained international exposure through recordings, films, and performances in several languages.
“Aquarela do Brasil” is sometimes confused with the works of Cartola, Donga, or Noel Rosa, all major names in Brazilian music. They belonged to overlapping samba traditions, but Ary Barroso is the composer credited with this specific song.