Meet the Composer: Heitor Villa-Lobos
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Age Range: Elementary
Introduction: Composers write music, just like authors write books. In the Class Notes “Meet the Composer” series, we will learn a little bit about the achievements, backstory, and influences of a variety of composers. Get ready to learn about these influential composers and listen to some of their music.
Free Download: Printable Lesson Plan and Visual Aids: Heitor Villa-Lobos
BACKGROUND
Heitor Villa-Lobos [ay-TOHR vee-lah LOH-bohs] was born in 1887 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He didn’t receive much formal music training, but learned to play several instruments by listening to and watching concerts his parents held in their house when he was growing up. He began playing cello, clarinet, and guitar in street bands and in theaters. Eventually, he began composing music. Many of his early compositions were the result of improvising, or making music up on the spot, without writing it down first.
Brazil is a country with a rich mix of cultures and Heitor Villa-Lobos attempted to reflect this in his music, incorporating various influences, including European art music and music native to Brazil. He spent considerable time in Paris among a group of composers who were living and working there. He also worked for the Brazilian government for a while, composing patriotic music. He died in 1959 at the age of 72.
MUSIC
“Chôros” means “weeping” or “cry” in Portuguese, the primary language of Brazil. The term Chôro was also used to describe a certain style of Brazilian street music. Heitor Villa-Lobos wrote a series of ten Chôros between 1920-1929. Each Chôro was written for a different combination of instruments. Chôro No. 1 was composed for solo guitar. Heitor Villa-Lobos played guitar, and this piece might sound a like the music he played in Brazilian street bands.
Heitor Villa-Lobos wrote a series of nine suites, or collection of pieces, called “Bachianas Brasileira”. These pieces were all inspired by two things: the music of German composer J.S. Bach and Brazilian music. Villa-Lobos combined elements of both to create something new. Listen and watch the slow and dramatic “Prelude” (or opening) from Bachianas Brasileira No. 4.
The Bachianas Brasileira No. 5 was composed for the somewhat unique combination of solo voice and 8 cellos. Notice that before singing words, the singer sings a beautiful melody without words.
Heitor Villa-Lobos' wife was a piano teacher. He composed a series of piano pieces for her and her students called A próle do bébé, which means “The Baby’s Family.” Many of the short pieces were named after different dolls and puppets, including “O Polichinello”, which is meant to sound like a mischievous and funny puppet. In the video below, the piece is performed by a pianist named Arthur Rubinstein, who was a friend of Heitor Villa-Lobos. Notice how fast he plays.
If you’re in Minnesota and want to hear Brazilian music featuring the guitar live and in person, you can book a concert with Class Notes artist Alma Brasileira.
CREATE, CONNECT & RESPOND
Heitor Villa-Lobos began composing through the process of improvisation. Learn more about improvisation and create your own musical improvisations with the What is IMPROVISATION? Lesson.
Dig deeper into one of Heitor Villa-Lobos' pieces, called Little Train of the Caipira, in this Listening Lesson.
Related Lesson Plans
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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
