.jpg)
1887-1959
Villa-Lobos is a Brazilian composer.
The composer's musical style is tough to pin down. He definitely honors his country's music through the lens of artistic Classical Music, but his approach is more in the vein of Béla Bartók rather than any Nationalistic Romanticisms, yet with a keen sense for rhythm, especially relating to dance.
Villa-Lobos spent time in Paris, the center of Nouveau art at the time, and so I also hear musical elements ala Stravinsky. Primitivism, Neo-Classicism, and certainly various brands of Modernism. Yet, I also detect populist leanings at times too, moments where he lushly soars cinematically, plus he often has a fair hand with tunes as well.
He was an extremely prolific composer and composed across many genres, both large form and small, vocal and instrumental alike. I know Villa-Lobos' music mainly from his orchestral, concertante, and vocal contributions, yet there is so much more. Hopefully I can expand my knowledge and search into his works.
Recordings and reviews currently on hand (Click below to visit):
1974: Guitar Concerto (Bream/Previn)
1986: Guitar Concerto (Romero/Marriner)
1989: Harmonica Concerto (Bonfiglio/Schwarz)
1993: Harmonica Concerto (Reilly/Smola)
1991: Symphonic Poems & Ballets
1993: Sacred Music
1994: Danças
1994: Discovery of Brazil: Suites
1995: Solo Guitar Music
1996: Bachianas Brasileiras (Tilson Thomas)
1997: Piano Concertos
2001: Forest of the Amazon (Heller)
2008: Nonetto & Quatuor (1940-57)
2009: Chôros & Bachianas (Box Set)
2005: Bachianas Brasileiras, Vol. 1
2006: Bachianas Brasileiras, Vol. 2
2007: Bachianas Brasileiras, Vol. 3
2008: Chôros, Vol. 1
2008: Chôros, Vol. 2
2008: Chôros, Vol. 3
2009: Piano Trios
2009: String Quartets (Box Set)
String Quartets 1, 2, 3
String Quartets 4, 5, 6
String Quartets 7 & 8
String Quartets 9, 10, 11
String Quartets 12 & 13
String Quartets 14, 15, 16, 17
2010: Forest of the Amazon (Neschling)
2011: Choral Music
2019: Harmonica & Guitar Concerto
2020: Symphonies (Box Set)
2017: Symphony 1 & 2
2012: Symphony 3 & 4
2011: Symphony 6 & 7
2016: Symphony 8, 9, 11
2014: Symphony 10
2015: Symphony 12
2021: Choral Transcriptions
2023: Cello Concertos
Looking for an easy way into the music of Villa-Lobos? I would check out his Chôros and Bachianas Brasileiras first. I also found his Guitar and Harmonica Concertos quite appealing, as were his film scores Forest of the Amazon and Discovery of Brazil, and if you like singing, his choral music is another easy avenue.
The piano concertos, symphonies, string quartets, and symphonic poems can be more challenging, but it also depends on your acceptance or resistance to Brazilian modernism, even though I have not considered Villa-Lobos as a 'tough' composer to listen to. Either way, enjoy!