IDAGIO | Villa-Lobos, H.: Piano Music, Vol. 5 - Guia Pratico I-Ix 747313000876

Featuring

Sonia Rubinsky
Heitor Villa-Lobos

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Recording & Production

This recording is the first time all the piano solo pieces from the Guia Prático have been recorded complete, in their original order, and with full translations of the song texts.

Performer Biography

Sonia Rubinsky, the pianist on this album, gave her first concert at age five and a half and was encouraged by Artur Rubinstein to pursue her doctoral studies at the Juilliard School.

Historical Context

Villa-Lobos's educational projects, including the Guia Prático, were developed during a period (1931-1945) when he embraced a brand of nationalism that verged on fanaticism, sometimes supporting the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas.

Compositional Technique

Despite its didactic intent, many pieces in the Guia Prático are technically and musically complex, suitable for advanced pianists rather than children or beginners.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Villa-Lobos's primary motivation for compiling the Guia Prático was pedagogical, aiming to revolutionize music education in Brazil and express its cultural landscape through music.

Composer Biography

Heitor Villa-Lobos, the composer, traveled extensively through Brazil from 1905-1913, collecting traditional melodies, rhythms, and genres.

Composition History

The Guia Prático is a collection of 137 traditional Brazilian songs, mostly children's rounds, assembled by Villa-Lobos for didactic purposes and approved by the National Commission for Didactic Texts.