Bartók - Orchestral Suite #1; Romanian Folk Dances
The Hungarian Béla Bartók is now recognized as one of the most important
composers of the twentieth century. Throughout his career, he was fascinated by
indigenous folk music from his own culture and others. His fascination was
fueled not only by curiosity, but also by a desire to elevate authentic music
of Hungary
(and, later, other regions) to the level enjoyed by the established
Austro-German masters. In a 1905 letter, Bartók wrote, "From what I know
of the folk-music of other nations, ours is vastly superior to theirs as regards
force of expression and variety.... If a peasant [were to have] acquired an
education, he would assuredly have created some outstanding works of great
value. Unfortunately, it is rare for a Hungarian peasant to go in for a
scholarly profession." (As quoted by Benjamin Suchoff.) In collaboration
with Zoltán Kodály, Bartók eventually would make recordings of folk songs,
analyze their structural and melodic properties, and publish his findings in
scholarly books and essays. The pair were among the first ethnomusicologists. As a composer, Bartók practiced what he
preached, incorporating folk melodies, rhythms, and other elements into his
compositions. These pieces use folk melodies (either authentic or newly
composed by Bartók in a similar style) to capture the character of a particular
song or dance.
2001-02 PCO repertoire