Irineu deAlmeida was a member of the Banda do Corpo de Bombeiros and played the oficlide (was considered the best Brazilian musician in that ancient instrument), the baritone horn, and the trombone. He wrote several songs that had success, many of them having received lyrics by Catulo da Paixão Cearense, like the valse "As Tuas Mãos." He left over 30 published songs; among his hits, "Os Olhos Dela," "Dainéia," "Meu Ideal," "Jaci," and "Morcego" can be mentioned. He was a historic member of the group of chorões (choro players) of those times, together with Irineu Pianinho, Neco, Galdino, Henrique Rosa, Carramona (Albertino Pimentel), Licas, and Catulo da Paixão Cearense. He was also a member of the famous group that frequented the Cavaquinho de Ouro music store, together with Villa-Lobos, Anacleto de Medeiros, Luís de Sousa, Juca Kalut, and Quincas Laranjeiras. As a trombonist, he was disputed by the foreign maestros who worked in Brazil. He was diretor de harmonia of the rancho Filhas das Jardineiras da Cidade Nova and he was Pixinguinha's music professor. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi