I. Molto moderato II. Molto capriccioso III. Lento rubato IV. Allegretto scherzando V. Allegro molto VI. Allegro moderato, molto capriccioso VII. Sostenuto rubato VIII. Allegro
In June of 1920, a Treaty between the Allied Powers of World War I and the Kingdom of Hungary, successor to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, radically redrew the Hungarian map. In Improvisations, Bartók memorialized the forced dismemberment of his country by including settings of Hungarian peasant music from the farthest reaches of the former Kingdom of Hungary, including music from modern Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. The Improvisations Op. 20 represent what he called the "second way" of composing with authentic folk material - using it as a "motto" surrounded by, embedded in, and juxtaposed to totally alien, invented, "daring" musical substance.Inside this framework you will hear many beautiful melodies, dance rhythms, even chant-type melodies in the seventh improvisation which was dedicated to Claude Debussy. Jonathan Levin
Classical Music | Piano Music
Béla Bartók
Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20 Play
Recorded on 06/03/2015, uploaded on 10/29/2015
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
I. Molto moderato
II. Molto capriccioso
III. Lento rubato
IV. Allegretto scherzando
V. Allegro molto
VI. Allegro moderato, molto capriccioso
VII. Sostenuto rubato
VIII. Allegro
In June of 1920, a Treaty between the Allied Powers of World War I and the Kingdom of Hungary, successor to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, radically redrew the Hungarian map. In Improvisations, Bartók memorialized the forced dismemberment of his country by including settings of Hungarian peasant music from the farthest reaches of the former Kingdom of Hungary, including music from modern Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. The Improvisations Op. 20 represent what he called the "second way" of composing with authentic folk material - using it as a "motto" surrounded by, embedded in, and juxtaposed to totally alien, invented, "daring" musical substance. Inside this framework you will hear many beautiful melodies, dance rhythms, even chant-type melodies in the seventh improvisation which was dedicated to Claude Debussy. Jonathan Levin
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Two Portraits, Op. 5, No. 1 "Idealistic" Andante sostenuto
Rhapsody No. 1
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Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20
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