SKU: BT.EMBZ2128

German-Hungarian.

'The Two Elegies are typified by Romantically exuberant, orchestral and full piano writing. Elegy No.1 was written in February 1908. The ternary reprise form is concealed by the voices in Bartók's varied piano writing that proliferate like luxuriant foliage. In the 'Grave' theme of the first section an important role is given to jumps of open fourths (presumably based on his recent folk music experiences), and these are also to be found in the fugato reprise of the theme. Elegy No.2 was written almost two years later, in December 1909. The entire composition is defined by the five falling notes that Bartók fashioned by inverting the Stefi Geyer motif also found in ElegyNo.1. Paired with this motivic unity is a harmonic world reflecting Debussy's influence, and piano writing reminiscent of the Romantic repertoire.' (HCD 32524 Bartók New Series Vol. 24, István G. Németh).

SKU: BT.EMBZ129

Hungarian-English-German-French.

'The Mikrokosmos is a cycle of 153 pieces for piano, written with a didactic purpose (Vol. 1: Z. 125, Vol. 2: Z. 126, Vol. 3: Z. 127, Vol. 4: Z. 128, Vol. 5: Z. 129, Vol. 6: Z. 130). That is, to give piano pieces which can be used from the very beginning, and then going on, it is graded according to difficulties. And the word Mikrokosmos may be interpreted as a series of pieces in many different styles, representing a small world. Or it may be interpreted as world of the little ones, the children.' (Interview broadcast by WNYC, in early 1945, on a programme entitled Ask the Composer.)

Der Mikrokosmos ist ein Zyklus von 153 Stücken für Klavier, zu didaktischen Zwecken geschrieben (Band 1: Z. 125, Band 2: Z. 126, Band 3: Z. 127, Band 4: Z. 128, Band 5: Z. 129, Band 6: Z. 130). Das bedeutet, dass von Anfang an kleine Klavierstücke g eübt werden können, um dann darauf weiter aufzubauen, da die Stücke entsprechend ihrem Schwierigkeitsgrad angeordnet sind. Das Wort Mikrokosmos kann als eine Serie von Stücken in verschiedenen Stilen verstanden werden, die zusammen eine kleine Welt b ilden. Oder man kann es als ‚die Welt der Kleinen, der Kinder' verstehen. (Aus einem Interview des WNYC, New York, Anfang 1945, im Rahmen einer Sendung mit dem Titel Fragen Sieden Komponisten.).

SKU: BT.EMBZ1764

English-German-Hungarian.

'In August [Bartók] heard the fifty-year-old Áron Balogh playing the peasant flute in Gyergyóteker patak in Cs k district. He arranged three songs under the title From Gyergyó, for tilinkó [peasant flute] and piano, and the piano transcription of this occasional composition presented to Stefi Geyer as 'Three Hungarian Folksongs from the Cs k District'. In all three versions Bartók retained the rich ornamentation of the flute version, and added a modal accompaniment to the melodies in a church mode. After the first two rubato melodies, notated in alternating time signatures, he concluded with a melody in strict 'giusto' rhythm. It is in this latter that the pentatonic skeletonbeneath the diatonic surface can best be felt. Bartók notated the pentatonic vocal version of this melody on this same field trip, and arranged it in the series 'Eight Hungarian Folksongs'.' (HCD 32524 Bartók New Series Vol. 24, István G. Németh).

SKU: HL.48023890

ISBN 9781495077722. UPC: 888680640101. 9.0x12.0x0.223 inches.

Books 1 and 2 have been combined, making this a great value for piano teachers and students. Authorized revised edition.

SKU: BT.EMBZ1765

'This music, moving even in its bleakness, is characterised by the complete absence of ornamentation. The arc of all four pieces [1. Adagio, 2. Andante, 3. Poco lento, 4. Assai andante] is similar: after beginning softly they reach a fortissimo climax, then sink back into numbing grief. Only the decidedly important melodic and harmonic elements are heard, pared down, occasionally reinforced with octave doubling. In the Adagio of the Second Piano Concerto Bartók was to return to this peculiar piano instrumentation. The lyricism and Hungarian turns of phrase of the second movement differ a little from the series: he orchestrated it with the title 'Melody' in 1931 as thecentral piece of the five-movement 'Hungarian Sketches'.' (HCD 32525 Bartók New Series Vol. 25, Somfai László).

SKU: HL.50485391

ISBN 9790080001165. B/4 (24,3 x 33,6 cm) inches. Bela Bartok.