March 5 - Birthday!

One of my favorite 20th century composers was born today.  From the University of Indiana:

Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887 – November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". Villa-Lobos has become the best-known and most significant Latin American composer to date. He wrote numerous orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal works. His music was influenced by both Brazilian folk music and by stylistic elements from the European classical tradition, as exemplified by his Bachianas Brasileiras (Brazilian Bachian-pieces).

Ah, Bachianias Brasilieras.

Here's the 5th, as sung by Villa-Lobos's favorite singer, Bidu Sayão:


Or, if you're looking for something a little more contemporary, here's Kathleen Battle:


Happy March 5!