About this episode
This episode explores the life and works of Béla Bartók, one of Hungary's greatest composers and a pioneer in ethnomusicology.
Béla Bartók was regarded as one of Hungary’s greatest composers. His fellow countryman, the pianist Andras Schiff, called him “one of the giants in the history of music.” But he was also one of the founders of what we now call ethnomusicology, spending much of his time immersed in peasant life, collecting folk songs. As around him Europe was torn apart by conflict, Bartók found relief in rural life and took inspiration from these traditional tunes, incorporating them into his own compositions. Music featured: Romanian Folk Dances Rhapsody for piano, Op. 1, BB36a, Sz. 26 Kossuth Symphonic Poem Sz21 Szekely Folksong, BB 34, "Piros alma" 3 Hungarian Folksongs from Csik, BB 45b, Sz. 35a Eight Hungarian Folksongs Allegro Barbaro 14 Bagatelles For Children Violin Concerto No. 1, BB48a, Sz 36: Andante sostenuto 7 Sketches, BB 54, Sz. 44 Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11 Four Dirges, Op. 9a The Wooden Prince, Sz. 60 Village Scenes, Sz. 79 5 songs Op. 15 Hungarian Folksongs (5), for voice & orchestra, BB. 108, Sz. 101 44 Duos for Two Violins, BB 104, Sz. 98 Out of Doors, Sz. 81 Mikrokosmos, Book V String Quartet No. 6, Sz 114 Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119 Presented by…
People in this episode
Host: Donald Macleod
Topics covered
- Béla Bartók
- Hungarian composers
- ethnomusicology
- folk music
- classical music
Keywords
- Béla Bartók
- Hungarian music
- ethnomusicology
- folk songs
- classical compositions
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio 3
Books & works: Romanian Folk Dances, Rhapsody for piano, Op. 1, BB36a, Sz. 26, Kossuth Symphonic Poem Sz21, Szekely Folksong, BB 34, "Piros alma", 3 Hungarian Folksongs from Csik, BB 45b, Sz. 35a, Eight Hungarian Folksongs, Allegro Barbaro, 14 Bagatelles For Children, Violin Concerto No. 1, BB48a, Sz 36: Andante sostenuto, 7 Sketches, BB 54, Sz. 44
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