Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 - 1959) was a Brazilian composer, possibly the best-known classical composer born in South America, and, according to some, the greatest composer ever born in the Americas. He wrote numerous orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal works. His music was influenced by both Brazilian folk music and by stylistic elements from the European classical tradition, as exemplified by his Bachianas brasileiras ("Brazilian Bach-pieces").