Bachianas brasileiras No. 5

Heitor Villa-Lobos adored Bach’s music, and his nine Bachianas Brasileiras sought to infuse a flavour of Brazilian folk culture into the contrapuntal and harmonic textures favoured by the Baroque master. Written for the unusual combination of eight-part cello ensemble and solo soprano, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 is the most popular of the cycle and one of Villa-Lobos’ best known pieces. The opening movement, “Ária”, begins with a soprano intoning a wordless vocal line, some cellos snapping out the rhythm on pizzicatos, others shadowing the melody. A central section extols the beauty of the moon as evening falls, before the wordless melody returns. The pulse of the second movement, “Dança”, is more urgent, as the fluttering soprano part apostrophises the songbirds of the Brazilian forest. Snatches of real-life birdsong are incorporated into the music, reflecting Villa-Lobos’ love of Brazilian landscapes and his care for the natural environment.