Heitor Villa-Lobos

Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos was born in 1887. His father started him on cello when he was so young that he used a viola, but held it like a cello. He loved it, and also guitar, at which he excelled. He was a lively and curious child, didn't take well to formal studies, but did start composing early on. From age 18-25 he traveled around Brazil collecting folk tunes to use in his music (this sounds like Bartok!) Later he told his friends in Paris, that he had been caught by a cannibalistic tribe and only spared because of his music. (could be....) The years 1923-1930 were spent in Paris where he and his music were a huge success. In 1930 he went back to Brazil and became deeply involved in music education for the masses. And he continued composing. Between 1930 and 1945 he wrote the nine works that make up the Bachianas Brazilianas. Two of these are for 8 cellos, and Number 5 adds a soprano. And those are the pieces we are playing on the "V" concert!