Handwritten letter Heitor Villa-Lobos (1939)

In 1939, Heitor Villa-Lobos fulfilled a promise.

• Handwritten letter from Heitor Villa-Lobos to a friend.
• A leaf.
• 15.4 cm x 22.1 cm.
• Rio, November 27, 1939.
• In Portuguese.
• Good condition, some tape marks, the ink oxidized the paper in the word “friend” without damaging the text.
• Unique piece.

Dear friend

Whoever promises fulfills…

A good hug from your Villa-Lobos

Rio, 11/27/1939

At this time, Villa-Lobos was the director of the Superintendency of Musical and Artistic Education (SEMA), an institution that aimed to reform and nationalize musical education in schools.

The composer was deeply involved in projects that promoted Brazilian music and produced patriotic works aimed at the great Brazilian mass. "Independence Day", celebrated on September 7, 1939, featured a choir of 30,000 children singing the national anthem and other pieces created by Villa-Lobos.

The letter's heading, mentioning the "General Secretariat of Education and Culture", indicates that your communication may be related to your official duties.

Villa-Lobos's handwritten letters are logically much rarer than his autographs, and are also more sought after by collectors. I really liked the motto “Who promises, buy”, the great composer’s elegant writing and signature.