Introdução aos Chôros

Introdução aos Chôros
Abertura
by Heitor Villa-Lobos

Heitor Villa-Lobos
English Introduction to the Chôros: Overture
Catalogue W239
Genre Chôros
Form Chôros
Composed 1929 (1929):
Published 1987
Publisher Max Eschig
Movements 1
Scoring Orchestra, guitar solo
Premiere
Location Rio de Janeiro,
Conductor Leo Perachi
Performers Zé Menezes (guitar), Orchestra of the Rádio Nacional

Introdução aos Chôros: Abertura (Introduction to the Chôros: Overture), is a composition for guitar and orchestra by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, composed in 1929 as an overture to precede a complete performance of his series of fourteen Chôros. A performance of just the Introdução lasts about thirteen minutes.

History

According to Villa-Lobos, a complete presentation of his series of Chôros should be preceded by the Introdução aos Choros and concluded by the duet for violin and cello called Chôros bis, as a sort of encore. According to the official account, the Introdução aos Chôros was composed in Rio de Janeiro and Paris in 1929 (Villa-Lobos, sua obra 2009, 27).

Instrumentation

The work is scored for solo guitar (amplified) and an orchestra consisting of 2 piccolos, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, timpani, tam-tam, cymbals, xylophone, celesta, 2 harps, piano, and strings.

Analysis

The work has the form and function of a traditional symphonic overture, anticipating the themes and other aspects of the music that is to follow. The main themes are drawn from the Chôros numbers 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14. The work ends with the solo guitar, against a soft and soothing background, playing a free cadenza that prepares for the following entrance of Chôros No. 1, "which is like the essence, the embryo, the psychological model that will be developed technically in the conception of all the Chôros" (Villa-Lobos 1972, 210).

References

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