Error processing SSI file

VILLA-LOBOS, Heitor
b Rio de Janeiro, 5 March 1887
d Rio de Janeiro, 17 June 1959, aged seventy-two

He was taught viola, clarinet and piano as a child, but when his father died his mother forbade him to continue his music studies. He ran away from horn e at the age of sixteen, helped by an uncle, and travelled all over Brazil, listening to folk music. In 1923 he went to Europe for the first time, chiefly to Paris where he fell under the influence of Debussy and Ravel. He returned to Brazil in 1930, and rose to become superintendent of musical education in Rio de Janeiro.

1908 (21)

Recouli, for small orchestra

1910 (23)

Suite dos canticos sertanejos, for small orchestra

1912 (25)

Aglaia, opera

1913 (26)

Suite da terra, for small orchestra

Suite for piano

1914 (27)

Izaht, opera

Suite popular, Brasiliera, for guitar

Ihericarabé, symphonic poem

Dansas dos Indios Mesticos, for orchestra

Suite for strings

1915 (28)

String Quartets No 1 and 2

1916 (29)

Symphony No 1, The Unforeseen

Centauro de Ouro, symphonic poem

Miremis, symphonic poem

Naufragio de Kleonica, symphonic poem

Marcha religiosa No 1, for orchestra

Sinfonietta on a Theme by Mozart

Cello Concerto

String Quartet No 3

1917 (30)

Uirapuru, ballet

Amazonas, ballet for orchestra

Symphony No 2, The Ascension

Fantasia, symphonic poem

lara, symphonic poem

Lobishome, symphonic poem

Saci Perere, symphonic poem

Tédio de alvorado, symphonic poem

Sexteto mistico, for flute, clarinet, saxophone, harp, celesta and

double-bass

String Quartet No 4

1918 (31)

Jesus, opera

Marcha religiosa No 3, for orchestra

Marcha religiosa No 7, for orchestra

Vidapura, oratorio

1919 (32)

Zoé, opera

Symphony No 3, The War

Symphony No 4, The Victory

Dansa frenetica, for orchestra

1920 (33)

Symphony No 5, The Peace

Dansa diabolica, for orchestra

Choros No 1, for guitar

1921 (34)

Malazarte, opera

Quartet for harp, celesta, flute and saxophone, with women's voices

1923 (36)

Suite for voice and viola

1924 (37)

Choros No 2, for flute and clarinet

Choros No 7, for flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, violin and cello

1925 (38)

Choros No 3, for clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, three horns and trombones, with male voice choir

Choros No 8, for two pianos and orchestra

Choros No 10, for choir and orchestra

1926 (39)

Choros No 4, for three horns and trombones

Choros No 5, for piano

Choros No 6, for orchestra

Choros No 6 bis, for violin and cello

1928 (41)

Choros No 11, for piano and orchestra

Choros No 14, for orchestra, band and choir

1929 (42)

Suite sugestiva, for voice and orchestra

Choros No 9, for orchestra

Choros No 12, for orchestra

Choros No 13, for two orchestras and band

Introducao aos Choros, for orchestra

Twelve Studies for guitar

1930 (43)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 1, for orchestra: Preludio, Aria, Fuga

Bachianas Brasilieras No 2, for orchestra: Preludio, Aria, Dansa, Toccata

1931 (44)

String Quartet No 5

1932 (45)

Caixinha de Boas Festas, ballet (also an orchestral suite)

1933 (46)

Pedra Bonita, ballet

1936 (49)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 4, for piano: Preludio, Aria, Coral Dansa (1930-6)

1937 (50)

Currupira, ballet

Sebastiao, for three voices

Descobrimento do Brasil, four suites for chorus and orchestra

1938 (51)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 3, for piano and orchestra: Preludio, Aria, Toccata

Bachianas Brasilieras No 6, for flute and bassoon: Aria, Fantasia

String Quartet No 6

1939 (52)

New York Skyline, for orchestra (Villa-Lobos 'drew' the melody by following the outline of skyscrapers on graph paper. He then harmonized the resultant melodic line and scored it for orchestra.)

1940 (53)

Saudades da juventude, Suite No I

Preludes for guitar

1942 (55)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 7, for orchestra: Preludio, Giga, Toccata, Fuga

String Quartet No 7

1944 (57)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 8, for orchestra: Preludio, Aria, Toccata, Fuga

String Quartet No 8

1945 (58)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 5, for voice and orchestra of cellos: Aria, Dansa (1938-45)

Bachianas Brasilieras No 9, for vocal orchestra

Piano Concerto No 1

Fantasia for cello

Villa-Lobos also composed much chamber music and many songs.

Return to Index