Named in memory of the well-known Brazilian musician Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959), one of the foremost Latin-American composers of the twentieth century. After traveling throughout his country he returned to Rio de Janeiro with a large collection of manuscripts and an intimate knowledge of Afro-Brazilian music. In 1930 he was appointed director of musical education in São Paulo, and in 1945 he founded the Brazilian Academy of Music. His 2000 compositions include operas, ballets, symphonies and pieces for solo instrument. Bachianas brasileiras, one of his most characteristic works, shows the influence of Bach {see planet  (1814)} and some of the French composers by his use of contrapunctal techniques applied to themes of Brazilian origin. (M 28623) _ _.