hen Raul Villa-Lobos died in 1899, Noêmia could no longer control her son.

In 1905, Villa-Lobos began his travels throughout Brazil. He visited the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Pernambuco, spending time on sugar cane plantations and farms in the interior, seeking out local folklore.

In 1908, he arrived at Paranaguá in the state of Paraná. He stayed there for two years, playing cello for local high society and guitar for the young people.

From 1911 to 1912, he set off on another trip - an excursion through the interior of states in the North and Northeast of Brazil It was on this trip he is supposed to have visited the Amazon - a fact not yet in evidence - an event which would have left a profound influence on his work.

Returning to Rio, he met the woman he would marry in 1913 - Lucília Guimarães.