Étude No. 8 (Villa-Lobos) Explained

Étude No. 8
Composer:Heitor Villa-Lobos
Key:C-sharp minor
Catalogue:W235
Dedication:Andrés Segovia
Duration:3 mins.
Publisher:Max Eschig
Premiere Location:Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Premiere Performers:Andrés Segovia, guitar
First Recording: Andrés Segovia (issued on Villa-Lobos: Two Studies [Nos. 1 and 8]. 1 disc, 78rpm, 12 inch, monaural. Columbia L.X. 1229 (matrix nos. CAX 10567; CAX 10570). England: Columbia Records.

Heitor Villa-Lobos's Étude No. 8, one of his Twelve Études for Guitar, was first published by Max Eschig, Paris, in 1953.

History

The first public performance of this étude (together with those of Études 1 and 7) was given by Andrés Segovia on 5 March 1947 at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Structure

The piece is in C-sharp minor and is marked Modéré.

Analysis

Étude No. 8 is a study in arpeggios and slurs. The main melody is introduced first in the bass, under the arpeggios, then is passed to the higher strings, and back and forth.