Villa-Lobos

by Simon Wright

The music of the prolific Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) typifies Brazil, in its diversity, spirit of racial amalgam, and awesome beauty. Through the sheer quantity of his output, his original use of folkloric material, and the striking accessibility of his scores, Villa-Lobos has become the best-known and most significant Latin American composer of all time.
This book provides an introduction to his music, and by focusing attention on important or unusual works from his large oeuvre, charts Villa-Lobos's own often anguished musical journey through the Brazilian landscape. Jungle, grasslands, river, city, and ocean all find a legitimate place in his aural mosaic of Brazil, but as he approached death his music assumed a deep spiritual quality of peace and resignation. His personal journey of discovery and fulfilment is clearly explained, set against the pervasive backdrop of social and political upheaval which characterized Brazil during Villa-Lobos's lifetime.

Genres: Music

162 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 1992

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book covers the life and works of 20th century Brazilian composer Heitor Villa Lobos. It's a nice, solid introduction to the composer and his music. I liked the way Wright integrated the biographical material with the discussion of Villa Lobos' music, although I could have done with a little more biography. Wright nonetheless does an excellent job of conveying not only the character of the music but the ways in which Villa Lobos shaped Brazilian art music.