Page 272 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained
P. 272
270
A NATION CREATES MUSIC.
THE COMPOSER ONLY
ARRANGES IT
STRING QUARTET NO. 5 (1934),
BÉLA VIKTOR JÁNOS BARTÓK
lthough heavily influenced and collecting thousands of Eastern
IN CONTEXT by German music, Béla European folk songs. In 1913, he
A Bartók’s individual voice also visited North Africa, again
FOCUS became increasingly evident after finding themes to incorporate in his
Reconciling folk music he began to collect music from his music. When his health rendered
and modernism
native Hungary in 1904. There is a him unfit for military service in
BEFORE clear evolution of style between the World War I, he again began to
1853 Liszt composes his Piano First Quartet (1909), which included compose. The success of his
Sonata in B minor, which had elements of folk music but was fairytale ballet The Wooden Prince
a profound influence on Bartók. influenced by Richard Strauss and (1917) led to renewed interest in his
Debussy, and his Fifth Quartet opera Bluebeard’s Castle (1911).
1895 Hungarian composer (1934), which premiered in 1935.
Ernö Dohnányi writes his
Piano Quintet, No. 1, Op. 1. Musical journey A Transylvanian village receives
Bartók (fourth from left) during one
In 1912, lack of interest in his works
1896 Richard Strauss writes from his publishers led Bartók to of his tours to record folk songs. His
Also sprach Zarathustra, a devote his time to studying folklore interest coincided with a growing
pride in traditional national culture.
work Bartók studied closely
after attending its Budapest
premiere in 1902.
AFTER
1953–1954 György Ligeti’s
String Quartet No. 1 is strongly
influenced by Bartók’s works.
1959 György Kurtág
completes his String Quartet,
Op. 1, effectively continuing
the Hungarian tradition of
string quartet writing.
US_270-271_Bartok.indd 270 26/03/18 1:01 PM
