Heitor Villa-Lobos was born on 5 March, 1887, in the Laranjeiras district of Rio de Janeiro. His father, Raul Villa-Lobos, was a National Library public functionary and amateur musician. He encouraged his son to study cello, and, to do this, brought home a viola for his son (better to a child size) and taught him musical theory.His father (Raul Villa-Lobos), died when Heitor was 12. At the request of his mother, Noemia Monteiro Villa-Lobos, Heitor wrote a ditty: "Os sedutores" (The seducers). Now an orphan, young heitor begins to play cello professionally in theaters, balls, etc., and abandoned the study of formal music.
Villa-Lobos also studied guitar. At this time, he became acquainted with popular musicians, with whom he never lost contact, and developed an interest in Chorões, the authentic folk music of Rio de Janeiro.
At age 16, he played cello in a theater orchestra. Also, he went to live with his aunt Fifina.
He traveled through the interior of Brazil, learning about folk music, which was to become a major influence on him as a mature composer. His first works, however, were influenced by contemporary European styles (Wagner, Puccini, french romanticism of the school of César Franck, and, later, impressionism). Subsequently, he was to create own musical language. From his journeys, he absorbed everything that he had heard. He would state many years later: "Folklore is me."
He systematically studied harmony, counterpoint, fugue and composition with Frederico Nascimento, Agnello França and Francisco Braga, in Rio de Janeiro.
Heitor was hired as a cellist by an operetta troupe that centered in Recife. He traveled to Fortaleza, Belém, Amazonas and Barbados in the Caribbean, where he started composing Danças Características Africanas (African Typical Dances) .
On November 12, 1913 he married the pianist Lucília Guimarães.
The first public audition of his works, at a theatre in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State. In July, his music was premiered at São Pedro Theater in Rio de Janeiro city.
The composer went to Paris not to study, but to show what he did. He said: "I didn't come to learn; I came to show what I have done. If you like it, I'll stay; if you don't, I'll return to my own country"
In 1949, while in Israel, he composed a symphonic poem as a tribute to the newly-created State.
On July 12, 1959 Heitor Villa-Lobos conducted his last concert in New York. The illness which had appeared in 1948 become more serious. Taken to the Foreigners' Hospital, he returned home after a surprising, but temporary, recovery. He died in his apartment on November17, and was buried in the São João Batista cemetery.