Villa-Lobos, Heitor, << VEE lah LOH bohs, AY tur >> (1887-1959), was a Brazilian composer who played a crucial role in developing a Brazilian national style of music. Villa-Lobos composed nine Bachianas Brasileiras (1930-1944) that blend Brazilian folk tunes with the style of the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Villa-Lobos wrote 16 Choros (1920-1928), primarily for large orchestra. These works were named for Brazilian bands of street musicians whose style was based on improvisation. Villa-Lobos also composed 12 symphonies and 16 string quartets, as well as ballets, operas, and oratorios. He was born on March 5, 1887, in Rio de Janeiro. He died on Nov. 17, 1959.
