Heitor Villa-Lobos was born on March 5, 1887 in Rio de Janeiro. At the age of 5, he travels with his family in the states of North East. This voyage is the date of his first musical impressions and his love for the popular music from Brazil. His father, Raul Villa-Lobos, initiate him with the instrumental practice at 6 years by teaching him violoncello.

In 1900 he composes "Panqueca"; his first piece for guitar, dedicated to his mother Noêmia. In 1903, he moves to live with his aunt Fifinha, and discovers the "Chorões" (groups of traveling musicians). At 18, Villa-Lobos travels in Brazil; he studies the people, their habits, their songs and dances.

In 1912 he makes the acquaintance with the pianist Lucília Guimarães. One year later he moves to Rio de Janeiro. At that time, Heitor Villa-Lobos composes incensement operas, sacred music, symphonic music and chamber music. From 1912 to 1923 he composes the "Suite Popular Brézilienne" for guitar, which includes five pieces: Mazurka Choro, Scottish Choro, Valsa Choro, Gavotta Choro and Chorino. November 12, he marries Lucília Guimarães. January 29, 1915 he gives his first concert as a composer in the Eugênia Theatre in Nova Friburgo, close to Rio de Janeiro. In 1917 he makes friends with Arthur Rubinstein and Darius Milhaud. He composes the ballets "the Amazon" and "Uirapuru". He composes in 1918 "A Prole do Bebê no 1" for piano, fixing his nationalist aesthetic position. In 1920 Villa-Lobos writes the "Choros no 1" for guitar, dedicated to his road - friends, the "Chorões".

In 1922, on the invitation of Graça Aranha, he participates with Mário de Andrade, Menotti del Picchia, Ronald de Carvalho and Guillerme de Almeida in the Week of Modern art of São Paulo. He makes his first voyage to Europe in 1923, subsidized by the Brazilian Congress. He composes the "Noneto".
He goes back to Brazil in 1925. He gives concerts in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Montevideo. He goes to Argentina and Uruguay on the invitation of "Sociedade Wagneriana". In 1927, he makes his second voyage to Europe. He lives three years in Paris where, in 1929, he composes the "Twelve Etudes" for guitar. At this stage he receives an international reputation.

In 1930, he comes back to Brazil, São Paulo. Heitor Villa-Lobos works on musical school projects for the government of President Getúlio Vargas. In 1931 he visits 54 villages in the province of São Paulo, accompanied by the artists: Antonieta Rudge Müller, Nair Duarte Nunes, Souza Lima and Lucilia Villa-Lobos. From this excursion, the idea of the "Trenzinho C Caipira" was born. Between 1930 and 1945 he composes "Bachianas Brasileiras". He makes acquaintance with Arminda Neige of Almeida (Mindinha) in 1932.

From 1932 to 1945, he assumes the direction of SEMA (Secretariat of Musical and Artistic Education) in Rio de Janeiro and introduces the obligatory teaching of the song at schools. He composes a "Practical Guide" for school choruses. He promotes chorus spectacles in the open air, bringing together choral societies including 44.000 children. He conceived a complete system of musical education for generations of Brazilians, based on the rich musical culture of Brazil, brought up on profound and always explicit patriotism.
He participates at the committee of President Getúlio Vargas, in the official voyage in1935 to the Republic of Argentina, on the occasion of the third Pan-American Congress. At the Theatre Colón (Buenos Aires) is presented, for the first time, the ballet "Uirapurú".

In 1936, he goes to voyage in Europe, to take part in the Congress of Musical Education, in the towns of Prague, Vienna and Berlin. From Berlin he writes to Lucília, ending their relations. On his return, he goes back to his former pupil and collaborator Arminda Neves d’Almeida. In 1940 he establishes the group "Sôdade C Cordão", bringing to live again the demonstrations of his childhood. He composes this year the "Five preludes" for guitar.
In 1943, he is named Director of the National Academy of Song, created lately by the Federal Government. In 1945, he establishes "Academia Brasileira de Música” where he is elected as its President.

1945 - 1959:
He travels in Americas and Europe. He goes to Israel. He composes and directs many concerts and records part of his works. He receives innumerable orders, either from particular solicitants, or governments, from Vatican and the institutions like the Koussevitzky Foundation. In 1945, he writes music for the movies of Hollywood. The Forties are one period of triumph on an international scale. As a composer and a director of his own music, Villa-Lobos is considered a celebrity in Los Angeles, New York and Paris.

He died in Rio de Janeiro, at 72, on November 17, 1959. He is buried in the Cemetery Sain João Batista of Rio de Janeiro. Villa-Lobos was endowed with extraordinary energy, and a warm heart.