Heitor Villa-Lobos

Villa-Lobos' series of nine works titled Bachianas Brasileiras reflects both the composer's Brazilian heritage and his lifelong admiration for the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The fifth entry in the series (1938-1945), which has emerged as the most popular of the composer's works, further suggests the scope of his sonic imagination in its unusual scoring for soprano and eight solo cellos. Like most of its companion works, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 exhibits characteristics of the Baroque suite, and those of Bach in particular. The first movement, an adagio Aria, is marked by a particular lyrical expansiveness.

 -- All Music Guide