Heitor Villa-Lobos - Brazilian composer, guitarist.
He is one of the great figures in music and the greatest pride of his country.
This Pablo Casals' opinion of the brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos
(1887-1959) shared many outstanding musicians of the XX century; among them
were Sharl Munsh and Leopold Stocovsky.
Founder of brazilian national music, author
of "Shoro" and "Brazilian bachians", symphonies and
operas, chamber compositions and ballets, folklorist and conductor, initiator
of foundation and the first president of Brazilian musical academy - this
is not all of Villa-Lobos importance in the world music. Base of his creative
activity is the brilliant knowledge of very difficult in structure brazilian
folklore (where combined elements of indian, african, spanish-portugesish
and other european musical cultures) and selection of national direction.
Villa-Lobos, in his best compositions, gave generalized and poetic image
of Brazilia, without exotic and nationalism. His creation is vivid and original
and has a great artistical in fluence.
The seventeenth Heitor composed a piece for
guitar. 1908 he composed "Brazilian suite", 1920 - "Shoro
I", 1939 - Preludes, 1951 - Concert devoted to Segovia, other pieces.
Two cycles - "5 preludes" and "12
etudes" for solo guitar represent a great contribution of Villa-Lobos
into the world guitar literature. That's why that the guitar for Brazilia
is a traditional folk instrument, Villa-Lobos avoids national colouring.
He gave universal orientation even in the names of his compositions. When
in "Preludes" brazilian origin is represented in generalized-romantic
style, "Etudes" are the compositions of transcendent technical
complication and much more accentuate the guitar status as national concert
instrument.
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