1 Joc cu bâtă [Stick Dance]
2 Brâul
3 Pe loc [In One Spot]
4 Buciumeana [Dance of Buchum]
5 Poargă românească [Romanian Polka]
6 Mărunţel [Fast Dance]
To say that 20th-century modernism is rooted in urbanism and the portrayal of city bustle would not be fabrication, however, Bartok finds his inspiration from much more humble roots, the folk music of his native Hungary. Full of vibrancy and tradition, Bartok cleverly crafts these wonderful fiddle tunes from Transylvania into a thrilling suite, originally for solo piano, which has become a firm favourite with audiences worldwide.
We hear here Bartok’s own orchestration of the piano work - Intoxicating inventiveness takes the rough bones of original melodies, and encapsulates the vivid moods of each dance, masterfully utilising instrumental colours to reflect the music’s character.
Programme note © Amy Campbell