History Essay: Heitor Villa-Lobos - Uirapuru

Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer born March 5, 1887, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil1. Who
became one of the leading composers of his time and one of Brazils most celebrated composers.
One of the most notable reasons for Heitor Villa-Lobos successes is that he blended aspects and
melodies of Brazilian Folk songs into European/American classical music. Born from a middle
class back ground. His father, a amateur musician taught him music from a young age. He watched
and studied the concert hall performances and learned to play the cello by the age of six. He
traveled with his family across brazil, which furthered his interest in Brazilian folk music2
After leaving home at the age of 18 he spent three years travelling again. Playing cello and guitar
to support himself while traveling throughout the states of Esprito Santo, Bahia, and Pernambuco,
absorbing Brazilian folk music and composing his own pieces.3 Traveling gave Heitor Villa-Lobos
an insight and through understanding of the local areas folk music. It was also at this age He
began a serious study of the works of Bach, Richard Wagner, and Giacomo Puccini, whose
influence can be noted in his compositions.4
Composing over 2,000 pieces Heitor Villa-Lobos career gained further momentum after his first trip
to Europe in 19235. Composing in all range of styles (which can be reflected in this piece.) At first
people didnt like his modernity when mixing these various folk styles with classical european
trends. This did not last long of course. Where in 1932 he took charge of music education
throughout Brazil. He established a conservatory for choral singing in 1942 and, with fellow
composer Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez, cofounded the Brazilian Academy of Music in 1945. Between
1944 and 1949 he traveled widely in the United States and Europe, where he wrote music for
several films, received many honours, and was much in demand as a conductor.6
Uirapuru or Musician wren s is a small bird located in Brazil. The musician wren is the subject of
several legends and fables, most relating to its loud and beautiful song.7 It is no doubt that this bird
inspired the naming of this piece. It starts off as if walking through this deep Brazilian forest, the
harpsichord tricks the listener as if they were brushed by a rattle of leaves, or witnessing a
1 http://www.biography.com/people/heitor-villa-lobos-9518768

2 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Heitor-Villa-Lobos

3 Ibid

4 Ibid

5Ibid

6 Ibid

scurrying creature zip past their feet. And then the single haunting melody line, mirroring the
Uirapuru bird. Further melodies meander around bends like rivers, waterfalls. Brass and strings
accent and colour the music like the colours amongst such jungle. Strings and singular flutes
rising up over the misty tree lines and up to a final crescendo. Every aspect of this piece seems as
if it wishes to played out like a Shakespearean drama of the jungle. I throughly enjoyed Uirapuru
and again what Ive found with this and other essay pieces is that although they are quite lengthy
you are always engrossed until the final moments of the song are finished.
By Lachlan West

Biblograhpgy
1.

11.09.2016. Heitor Villa-Lobos Biography Songwriter (18871959). [online] Bio.com. Available

at: <http://www.biography.com/people/heitor-villa-lobos-9518768> [Accessed 11 Sep. 2016].

2. 11.09. 2016. Heitor Villa-Lobos. [online] Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Available at:
<https://www.britannica.com/biography/heitor-villa-lobos> [Accessed 11 Sep. 2016].
3. 11.09.2016. Musician Wren (Online) Wikipedia Online. Available at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musician_wren [Accessed 11 Sep. 2016].

7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musician_wren