Villa-Lobos, in his first steps as a composer tried in different genres, as popular music, as well classic styles like opera, sacred and chamber music; since 1914, he knew and studied the Cours de Composition Musicale (1909) de Vincent d'Indy. This paper analyses his symphonies and string quartets composed and premiered between 1915 and 1919. During this time, one can see the "Frenchness" growing in Villa-Lobos's style, as an acceptance strategy in the Rio de Janeiro musical environment. I intend to rediscuss a Paulo Guérios's thesis, according to whom Villa-Lobos became a Brazilian musician only after his arrival at Paris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]