Bela Bartok: Mikrokosmos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Bartók's Mikrokosmos ("Little World") essentially comprises 153 teaching pieces, divided into six books of progressive difficulty. These works make ideal vehicles for budding piano students who are ready to face the myriad challenges of 20th-century keyboard music. They also reveal the kernels of the Hungarian composer's uncompromising compositional style. György Sándor was a piano pupil of Bartók's, and his fluid, perceptive playing is unfailingly idiomatic, from the simple, canon-like exercises at the start to the demanding Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm that crown the cycle. The mono engineering is thin but acceptable. Suffice it to say that the composer would have been proud of what his pupil achieves here. --Jed Distler

Amazon.com

Sàndor, still active at 90 as this reissue appears, was a student of Bartók and a preferred interpreter of his music. Since this set appeared on nine LPs in the early 1960s, it has been the standard for Bartók's piano music; in this fine-sounding reissue, it still is. Sàndor can hit hard enough for such virtuoso pieces as the Piano Sonata and "Out of Doors," but he also retains the romantic element heard in the composer's own playing which tempers the harsher qualities of the music. While this collection isn't quite as complete as advertised (some early, insignificant piano music by Bartók is omitted), it includes all of Bartók's significant piano music, including such relatively obscure gems as the Bagatelles, eight Improvisations, and many delectable folk arrangements which will appeal even to listeners who think Bartók is too challenging for them. Vox's recorded sound, superbly remastered, resists obsolescence as effectively as Sàndor's performances. Even with the inclusion of the early books of "Mikrokosmos," which will appeal mostly to piano students, this set is worth several times the asking price. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Microcosmos.......2007-03-08

Sándor was a champion not only of Bartók's music but also of Bartók's style of playing. He often complained that people were too quick to see Bartók as ultra-modern, and to fail to appreciate the rich seam of lyricism that also runs through his music.

The piano music is dominated by short pieces, many of them written for piano students, notably the collections "Microcosmos" and "For Children". These, together with suites of folk dance arrangements, make up the bulk of the solo piano output.

Sandór plays these short, and often simple pieces, with neither too much nor too little art. As a gifted teacher, he knew unerringly how much music each of these small vessels held. The result is beguiling - but be warned: no-one can listen to the 153 short pieces of Microcosmos end-to-end. This is an anthology to be dipped into, not swallowed whole.

The remastering is pretty successful (fortunately - some of Vox's CD reissues are plagued by severe deterioration of the original tapes). And it's for half nothing-what's not to like?

Great value with a few flaws.......2006-07-28

I am not a Bartok expert by any scale, but I do like the way these pieces, without exception, are played. There are, however, a couple of other problems.

As mentioned by an earlier reviewer, very few of the works are split into tracks - Mikrokosmos is divided into 7 for each of its six volumes, and to accomodate for a full CD. In these seven tracks there are 121 songs. I would have much preferred if the songs had been split into tracks. Almost the entire CD set is this way - Fifteen Hungarian Songs is one track, Fourteen Bagatelles, etc. It is very annoying when one wants to hear a particular song in those tracks and not the others.

Another detriment to the collection is the recording quality. It is decent most of the time, but in loud sections the piano buzzes. One might be able to ignore it, but I think that it detracts from the passion of the forte quite a bit.

Overall, for $18 it is pretty decent, but if you are like me and like to keep your music library neatly organized (and aren't extremely cheap), I would not recommend this set.

eeh, I guess I don't like Bartok that much.......2006-07-25

I like the fact that Bartok is into the folk tradition and all, but he just tends to forget the fact that melody has to be SOMEWHERE in the music. I'm all for creative expression when you're sitting alone at the piano, but abstract music should be reserved for performance art. I like playing some of your stuff Bela, but I just don't want to listen to you.

Best classical value out there.......2005-10-05

To put this set in perspective, for months I would go to my local Tower Records fishing for worthwhile classical CDs at least once a week. One of the discs that sat in the bins the longest was a single CD of Bartok piano music, played by Zoltan Kocsis. It was Volume 7 of a complete series. This CD listed for $17.99, and as long as I went to that Tower Records, it did not budge an inch, nor was its price amended.

Now, Kocsis is one of the greatest pianists alive, and if anyone is worthy of commanding a premium, it is him. And to be fair, that CD is going to be re-released on October 11 as part of a Collector's Edition - eight CDs, $63.97 MSRP. But it's already going up against this little gem, which contains five CDs with all of the truly great solo-piano works by an internationally recognized Bartok specialist for $21 - not much more than the cost of one CD from the other set. This kind of value is not to be taken lightly.

I came to this set with my impression of Sandor informed by his complete Prokofiev - ultra-hard, sometimes rhythmically slack, always melodically lacking in some way or another. But he held a very special feeling for Bartok, and saved his best playing for the great Hungarian. In passages like the first of the Three Csik Dances, the opening of the Improvisations Op. 20, or in the Ten Easy Pieces, there is a simplicity, charm and wistful homesickness that is quite touching. In pieces like the Out of Doors suite, the Sonata, or the Burlesques, there is a vicious, impulsive energy, a wicked sense of humor and an overabundance of overtones. It is never mindless, inappropriate or even overly harsh - it's just very, very loud.

In this set I like best the endless landscape of the Sonatina, the unusual colors and fragrances in the Etudes, the brilliantly conceived Bear Dance (the last of the Ten Easy Pieces), and the multifaceted, complex, gorgeous Improvisations. Any fan of Bartok should hear these.

5 Stars for the music and performance.......2005-04-04

This is a fantastic deal, but the problem with this Collection stems from the fact that the pieces are often not separated by tracks. This is especially annoying for the Children's Pieces and Mikrokosmos. There are so many pieces, one wears out the fast forward button and still may miss the particular piece one is looking for. The booklet is fairly insightful, and the performer is widely hailed as the supreme interpreter of Bartok's piano music. So aside from this slightly annoying at times and ridiculously annoying at other times flaw, this is one of the best deals in Classical music. Don't hesitate. Add it to the cart.

Average customer rating:

Masterful interpretation of Bartok's piano works

Zoltán Kocsis plays Bartók

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0009A41VA
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Customer Reviews:

Masterful interpretation of Bartok's piano works.......2005-10-21

Without a doubt Bartok is one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Combining a deep understanding of the possibilities of eastern European folk music - particularly Hungarian and Romanian - with an extremely advanced harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary, Bartok composed some of the greatest works of the last century.

Although Bartok wrote some sublime orchestral music (The Music for strings, percussion and celeste comes instantly to mind), it is in the realms of string quartet and solo piano music that Bartok reigns supreme among 20th century composers in the humble opinion of this reviewer.

So. Here is an 8 CD set of all of Bartok's solo piano music by (argueably) the pre-eminent interpreter of his piano music. These are insightful, passionate performances beautifully recorded.

I for one am thrilled to have this set - particularly since many of these CDs were unavailable up till now. The box is also very reasonably priced compared to the separate CDs.

Highly recommended - modern music begins here.

Average customer rating:

One fantastic work.One fantastic pianist
Not for Everyone, But Good for What It Is

Bartók: Mikrokosmos, Books 1-6

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000GNOHLY
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

No.1: Six Unison Melodies
No.2: Six Unison Melodies
No.3: Six Unison Melodies
No.4: Six Unison Melodies
No.5: Six Unison Melodies
No.6: Six Unison Melodies
No.7: Dotted Notes
No.8: Repetition
No.9: Syncopation
No.10: With Alternate Hands
No.11: Parallel Motion
No.12: Reflection
No.13: Change Of Position
No.14: Question And Answer
No.15: Village Song
No.16: Parallel Motion With Change Of Position
No.17: Contrary Motion
No.18: Four Unison Melodies
No.19: Four Unison Melodies
No.20: Four Unison Melodies
No.21: Four Unison Melodies
No.22: Imitation And Counterpoint
No.23: Imitation And Inversion
No.24: Pastorale
No.25: Imitation And Inversion
No.26: Repetition
No.27: Syncopation
No.28: Canon At The Octave
No.29: Imitation Reflected
No.30: Canon At The Lower Fifth
No.31: Dance In Canon Form
No.32: In Dorian Mode
No.33: Slow Dance
No.34: In Phrygian Mode
No.35: Chorale
No.36: Free Canon
No.37: In Lydian Mode
No.38: Staccato And Legato
No.39: Staccato And Legato (Canon)
No.30: In Yugoslav Style
No.41: Melody With Accompaniment
No.42: Accompaniment InBroken Triads
No.43: In Hungarian Style
No.44: Contrary Motion
No.45: Meditation
No.46: Increasing - Diminishing
No.47: County Fair
No.48: In Mixolydian Mode
No.49: Crescendo - Diminuendo
No.50: Minuetto
No.51: Waves
No.52: Unison Divided
No.53: In Transylvanian Style
No.54: Chromatics
No.55: Triplets In Lydian Mode
No.56: Melody In Tenths
No.57: Accents
No.58: In Oriental Style
No.59: Major And Minor
No.60: Canon With Sustained Notes
No.61: Pentatonic Melody
No.62: Minor Sixths In Parallel Motion
No.63: Buzzing
No.64: Line Against Point
No.65: Dialogue
No.66: Melody Divided
No.67: Thirds Against A Single Voice
No.68: Hungarian Dance
No.69: Study In Chords
No.70: Melody Against Double Notes
No.71: Thirds
No.72: Dragons' Dance
No.73: Sixths And Triads
No.74: Hungarian Matchmaking Song
No.75: Triplets
No.76: In Three Parts
No.77: Little Study
No.78: Five-Tone Scale
No.79: Hommage A Johann Sebastian Bach
No.80: Hommage A Robert Schumann
No.81: Wandering
No.82: Scherzo
No.83: Melody With Interruptions
No.84: Merriment
No.85: Broken Chords
No.86: Two Major Pentachords
No.87: Variations
No.88: Duet For Pipes
No.89: In Four Parts
No.90: In Russian Style
No.91: Chromatic Invention
No.92: Chromatic Invention
No.93: In Four Parts
No.94: Once Upon A Time...
No.95: Fox Song
No.96: Jolts

Tracks:

No.97: Notturno
No.98: Thumbs Under
No.99: Hands Crossing
No.100: In Folk Song Style
No.101: Diminished Fifth
No.102: Harmonics
No.103: Minor And major
No.104: Wandering Through The Keys
No.105: Game
No.106: Children's Song
No.107: Melody In The Mist
No.108: Wrestling
No.109: From The Island Of Bali
No.110: And The Sounds Clash And Clang...
No.111: Intermezzo
No.112: Variations On A Folk Tune
No.113: Bulgarian Rhythm
No.114: Theme And Inversion
No.115: Bulgarian Rhythm
No.116: Song
No.117: Bourree
No.118: Triplets In 9/8 Time
No.119: Dance In 3/4 Time
No.120: Triads
No.121: Two-Part Study
No.122: Chords Together And In Opposition
No.123: Staccato And Legato
No.124: Staccato
No.125: Boating
No.126: Change Of Time
No.127: New Hungarian Folk Song
No.128: Stamping Dance
No.129: Alternating Thirds
No.130: Village Joke
No.131: Fourths
No.132: Major Seconds Broken And Together
No.133: Syncopation
No.134: Studies In Double Notes
No.135: Perpetuum Mobile
No.136: Whole-Tone Scales
No.137: Unison
No.138: Bagpipe Music
No.139: Jack-In-The-Box
No.140: Free Variations
No.141: Subject And Reflection
No.142: From The Diary Of A Fly
No.143: Divided Arpeggios
No.144: Minor Seconds, major Sevenths
No.145: Chormatic Invention
No.146: Ostinato
No.147: March
No.148: Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm
No.149: Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm
No.150: Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm
No.151: Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm
No.152: Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm
No.153: Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm

Customer Reviews:

One fantastic work.One fantastic pianist.......2007-06-28

Mikrokosmos is really one fantastic didactic work . Bartók wrote one method very interesting because the student has one contact with the innovations of the musical language that was transformed at the beginning of the twentieth century . We have modal melodies , changing of bars , polytonality , etc. Normally the musical education forgets all this things. With Mikrokosmos we have this fantastic opportunity to make one "modernization" of piano and music for beginners .Bartók was one of the most important composers of the first half of his century. But he was too one very important teacher. The value of the music of Mikrokosmos is very high , even in the most simple parts of the work.
If I love Bartók as composer I must say that Jeno Jandó , one of the most important pianists in the world, respected what was written in accents, andamenti, articulation and expression. I listened the 6 books with the score. And I must say that Jandó made a very important and beautiful work. I admire this pianist for his recordings of the "adults" works of Bartók: the Out of Doors Suite , the Suite op. 14 , the Sonata etc. But this time he came really at a level never reached for his predecessors.
MIkrokosmos : one fantastic work played and recorded in a very high level. I'm really very happy after heard this beautiful record. Bravo Naxos. Bravo Jandó. And bravo for the didactic work of this great composer.

Not for Everyone, But Good for What It Is.......2006-10-05

A confession: Although I've owned the Dezso Ranki recording of the complete Bartók 'Mikrokosmos', I never listened to the whole thing. Mikrokosmos is a collection of six books of pedagogical piano pieces, 153 in all, that progress in difficulty from Book I to Book VI. Indeed, Books V and VI contain a number of virtuoso pieces that occasionally appear on piano concert programs. But those in Books I and II, and most of them in Books III and IV, are of quite limited interested to the casual listener. Mikrokosmos began as a set of teaching pieces written for Bartók's young son Peter to use in his piano practice. As the writing of the work progressed the pieces got more and more difficult and began getting names like 'And the Bells Clash and Clang...' or 'From the Diary of a Fly' rather than the earlier 'Dotted Notes' and 'Five-Tone Scale.' Even though there have been several recordings of the whole shebang it is hard for me to understand their value for the casual listener. I can understand piano teachers wanting to have the complete works on record, but frankly beyond that rather limited audience it seems reasonable for the listener to perhaps own excerpts from the later books. Indeed, Bartók, himself a virtuoso pianist, did not record the whole set but only some of the virtuosic (and interesting) later pieces. And a number of other pianists, many of them Hungarian like Bartók, have done likewise. Nonetheless, the set has exerted enduring interest for musicologists, partly because of their occasional use of non-Central European scales and melodies and partly because of the technical manner in which Bartók constructed the pieces. Dissertations have been written on those subjects. Bartók himself was prevailed upon by Schirmer, their American publisher, to write his own explication of the pieces.

Jenö Jandó is an excellent pianist, and a Hungarian to boot. He has recorded several earlier volumes of Bartók's more familiar (and frankly more interesting) piano music, and to general acclaim. His playing is rhythmically pointed, crisply articulated and with innate understanding of the eastern European provenance of much of the source music. Given the budget price and the lifelike sound of the recorded piano, as well as the excellence of the playing, Jandó's set is, I believe, the choice of currently available sets. Still, I can give it only four stars because of the limited interest of the earlier books in the set.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Bartók: Microcosmos

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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$9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B00015OOH4
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Average customer rating:

Encore!

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Polka
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Preludes For Piano: No. 2 Andante con moto e poco rubato
Preludes For Piano: No. 3 Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
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Jet Song (Boogie- Woogie)
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Average customer rating:

Superb Piano Playing

Bartók: Microcosmos (Complete)

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000027OZR
Release Date: 1992-12-15

Tracks:

Vol. I: 1. Unison Melody/2a. Unison Melody/2b. Unison Melody/3. Unison Melody/4. Unison Melody...
Vol. I: 7. Dotted Notes/8. Repetition/9. Syncopation/10. With Alternate Hands/11. Parallel Motion...
Vol. I: 18. Unison Melody/19. Unison Melody/20. Unison Melody/21. Unison Melody/22. Imitation And...
Vol. I: 28. Canon At The Octave/29. Imitation Reflected/30. Canon At The Lower Fifth/31. Little...
Vol. I: 32. In Dorian Mode/33. Slow Dance/34. In Phrygian Mode/35. Chorale/36. Free Canon
Vol. II: 37. In Lydian Mode/38. Staccato E Legato/39. Staccato E Legato/40. In Yugoslav Mode/41...
Vol. II: 43a. In Hungarian Style (2 Pnos)/43b. In Hungarian Style (2 Pnos)/44. Contrary Motion...
Vol. II: 48. In Mixolydian Mode/49. Cresendo-Diminuendo/50. Minuetto/51. Waves
Vol. II: 52. Unison Divided/53. In Transylvanian Style/54. Chromatic/55. Triplets In Lydian Mode...
Vol. II: 61. Pentatonic Melody/62. Minor Sixths In Parallel Motion/63. Buzzing/64a. Line And Point..
Vol. III: 67. Thirds Against A Single Voice/68. Hungarian Dance (2 Pnos)/69. Chord Study/70...
Vol. III: 73. Sixths And Triads/74a. Hungarian Song/74b. Hungarian Song/75. Triplets/76. In Three...
Vol. III: 77. Little Study/78. Five-Tone Scale/79. Hommage A La J.S. Bach/80. Hommage A La R. Schuma
Vol. III: 84. Merriment/85.Broken Chords/86. Two Major Pentachords/87. Variations
Vol. III: 88. Duet/89. In Four Parts/90. In Russian Style/91. Chromatic Invention/92. A Chromatic...
Vol. III: 93. In Four Parts/94. Tale/95. Song Of The Fox/96. Song Of The Fox (2 Pnos)/96...

Tracks:

Vol. IV: 97. Notturno/98. Thumb Under/99. Crossed Hands/100. In The Style Of A Folksong/101...
Vol. IV: 103. Minor And Major/104. Through The Keys/105. Playsong/106. Children's Song/107...
Vol. IV: 109. From The Island Of Bali/110. Clashing Sounds/111. Intermezzo/112. Vars On A Folk...
Vol. IV: 114. Theme And Inversion/115. Bulgarian Rhythm/116. Melody/117. Bourree/118. Triplets...
Vol. V: 122. Chords Together And Opposed/123. Staccato E Legato/124. Staccato/125. Boating/26...
Vol. V: 127. New Hungarian Folksong (2 Pnos)/128. Peasant Dance/129. Alternating Thirds/130...
Vol. V: 132. Major Seconds Broken Together/133. Syncopation/134. Three Studies In Double Notes...
Vol. V: 136. Whole-Tone Scale/137. Unison/138. Bagpipe/139. Merry Andrew
Vol. VI: 140. Free Vars/141. Subject And Reflection/142. From The Diary Of A Fly/143. Divided..
Vol. VI: 144. Minor Seconds, Major Sevenths
Vol. VI: 145a. Chromatic Invention/145b. Chromatic Invention/145c. Chromatic Invention (2 Pnos)...
Vol. VI: 148. Dance In A Bulgarian Rhythm No. 1/149. Dance In A Bulgarian Rhythm No. 2/150. Dance...

Customer Reviews:

Superb Piano Playing.......2007-05-06

I've listened to Mikrocosmos recordings by Kocsis, Sandor, Ditta, Bela Bartok himself, and a number of others. This one by Claude Helffer is the warmest and most romantic, if I may say that word. It is superb! After hearing it, and after looking around, I have noticed Claude Helffer did not record that much. But he was wonderful!!! Let me note that he was faithful to play the pieces at the tempo indicated by the composer. That's an important detail. But the main thing I want to tell you, is this recording has a WARM, wonderful sound, in the interpretation and in the production/engineering.

Average customer rating:

A fascinating glimpse into Barokian style
Bela Bartok, The pianist.

Bartók Plays Bartók

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000WPP
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Ste, Op.14 Allegretto: Scherzo: Allegro Molto: Sostenuto
Two Rumanian Dances Op.8a: No.1, Allegro Vivace
10 Easy Pieces: No.5, Evening In Transylvania; No.10: Bear Dance
Allegro Barbaro
14 Bagatelles Op.6 No.2: Allegro Giocoso; 3 Burlesques Op.8c: No.2, A Bit Drunk
9 Little Piano Pieces: No.6, Air, No.8, Tambourne, Petite Ste; V, Bagpipes
3 Rondos On Folk Melodies: No.1, Andante
15 Hungarian Peasant Songs: Nos. 7-10, 12, 14, 15 (Old Dance Tunes)
Sursum Corda No.7 From Annees De Pelerinage, Book 3
Mikrokosmos: No.124: Staccato; No.146: Ostinato
Petite Ste Ia. Slow Melody: , Ib. Walachian Dance; II. Whirling Dance; III. Quasi Pizzicato...
9 Little Piano Pieces: No.9, Prld All'ungherese
3 Rondos On Folk Tunes: No.1, Andante; 14 Bagatelles: No.2, Allegro Giocoso
3 Rondos On Folk Melodies: No.1, Andante
15 Hungarian Peasant Songs: Nos.7-10, 12, 14, 15; Old Dance Tunes
Annees De Peleringe, Book III: No.7 Sursum Corda - Bela Bartok/Ditta Pasztory-Bartok
Mikrokosmos: No.124: Staccato
Mikrokosmos: No.146: Ostinato
Petite Ste: Ia. Slow Melody
Petite Ste: Ib. Walachian Dance
Petite Ste: II. Whirling Dance
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Petite Ste: IV. Ukrainian Song
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Improvisions On Hungarian Peasant Songs: No.1, Molto Moderato
Improvisions On Hungarian Peasant Songs: No.2, Molto Capriccioso
Improvisions On Hungarian Peasant Songs: No.6, Allegro Moderato, Molto Capriccioso
Improvisions On Hungarian Peasant Songs: No.7, Sostenuto, Rubato
Improvisions On Hungarian Peasant Songs: No.8, Allegro
3 Hungarian Folk Tunes: No.1
3 Hungarian Folk Tunes: No.2
3 Hungarian Folk Tunes: No.3
7 Pieces From Mikrokosmos: I. Chord And Trill Study
7 Pieces From Mikrokosmos: II. New Hungarian Folk Song
7 Pieces From Mikrokosmos: III. Chromatic Invention

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating glimpse into Barokian style.......2007-04-20

I will be brief. These recordings, made between the late 1920s and 1940, are technically deficient in showing Bartok's fabled tone (though a little of it comes through) but musically fascinating in showing how much more lyrical and gentle his playing of his own music was than that of most pianists today. Based on this evidence, then, pianists like Annie Fischer are much closer to Bartok's musical concept than Gyorgy Lehel or many of the others who have recorded his concerti in recent decades. A major resource for students of Bartok's music. (Only four stars given because of the scratchy discs and boxy sound, not because of intrinsic musical value.)

Bela Bartok, The pianist........2007-03-15

Hungarian composer Bela Bartok (born in Romania) was an innovative composer in his day and along with Gyorgy Ligeti is highly regarded as one of the greatest composers to come out of Hungary in the 20th century.
While a majority of Bartok's works are timeless classics in modern Classical repertoire, recordings are Bartok performing his own music are extremely rare to find these days. This is what makes the "Bartok Plays Bartok" disc from Pearl Records such a treat to listen to.
The recordings on this disc date from between 1929 and 1941 and display Bartok's gifts as a solid pianist in their fullest. His pianistic attack and full command of the instrument comes through in every piece included here.
Standouts include the opening piano "Suite", Bartok's own rendition of his famous "Allegro Barbaro" and the "Petite Suite". The 2-piano arrangement of three of Bartok's "Mikrokosmos" pieces is also a standout and features Bartok's wife Ditta as second pianist.
Indeed, there is plenty of history and lessons heard in these historic performances. For a pianist studying on how Bartok's music ought to be played, "Bartok Plays Bartok" is an ideal CD to have. We get to hear a master composer prove himself to be a master pianist.
Definitely a must have for any Bartok fan.

Average customer rating:

Bartok bonanza

Bartók: Mikrokosmos (Selection)

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000013RU
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Allegro barbara - Tempo giusto
Three Hungarian Folksongs From The Csik District: Rubato
Three Hungarian Folksongs From The Csik District: L'istesso tempo
Three Hungarian Folksongs From The Csik District: Poco vivo
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Four Old Tunes: Rubato
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Four Old Tunes: Andante
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Four Old Tunes: Poco rubato
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Four Old Tunes: Andante
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Four Old Tunes: Scherzo: Allegro
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Four Old Tunes: Ballade: Tema con variazioni: Andante
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Allegro
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Allegretto
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Allegretto
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: L'istesso tempo
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Assai moderato
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Allegretto
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Poco pio - Allegretto
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Allegro
Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs: Old Dance Tunes: Allegro
Sonatina: Bagpipers: Molto moderato
Sonatina: Bear Dance: Moderato
Sonatina: Finale: Allegro vivace
Three Rondos On Slovak Folktunes: Andante
Three Rondos On Slovak Folktunes: Vivacissimo
Three Rondos On Slovak Folktunes: Allegro molto
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 2 No. 37: In Lydian mode (Allegretto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 4 No. 100: In The Style Of A Folk Song (Andante)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 4 No. 113: Bulgarian Rhythm (Allegro molto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 3 No. 82: Scherzo (Allegretto scherzando)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 4 No. 115: Bulgarian Rhythm (Vivace)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 4 No. 120: Fifth Chords (Allegro)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 4 No. 116: Melody (Tempo di Marcia)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 126: Change Of Time (Allegro pesante)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 135: Perpetuum mobile (Allegro molto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 3 No. 87: Variations (Allegro moderato)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 138 Bagpipe (Allegretto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 3 No. 73: Sixths And Triads (Comodo)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 128: Peasant Dance (Moderato)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 122: Chords Together And Opposed (Molto vivace)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 130: Village Joke (Moderato)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 129: Alternating Thirds (Allegro molto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 2 No. 50: Minuetto (Tempo di Minuetto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 2 No. 40: In Yugoslavian Mode (Allegretto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 131: Fourths: (Allegro non troppo)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 5 No. 133: Syncopation (Allegro)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 6 No. 140: Free Variations (Allegro molto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 6 No. 144: Minor Seconds, Major Sevenths (Molto adagio mesto)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 6 No. 146: Ostinato (Vivacissimo)
Mikrokosmos: Vol. 6 No. 147: March (Allegro)
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm: Vol. 6 No. 148
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm: Vol. 6 No. 149
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm: Vol. 6 No. 150
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm: Vol. 6 No. 151
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm: Vol. 6 No. 152
Six Dances In Bulgarian Rhythm: Vol. 6 No. 153

Customer Reviews:

Bartok bonanza.......2000-09-17

If you're looking for a single CD that will introduce you to the treasure-house of Bartok's piano works, you can't do better than this. Szokolay brings each of the 55 short selections here to vivid life, from the simple and understated ones to the harmonically challenging, from the folk rhythms to the austere and meditative mini-masterpieces. The piano sound is just a little thick compared to the best piano recordings, but its very lack of sharpness helps to keep some of the more percussive pieces from sounding too brittle. I enjoy this more with every hearing. Hats off to Naxos for a great buy.

Out of Doors: Piano Music of Béla Bartók

Average customer rating:

Unusually sensitive and fluid Bartok
Not all Music Fans are correct
Outstanding Bartók performance
Levinson Should Stay Indoors

Out of Doors: Piano Music of Béla Bartók

Manufacturer: Encoded Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006O33
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

Out Of Doors Suite: With Drums And Pipes
Out Of Doors Suite: Barcarolla
Out Of Doors Suite: Musettes
Out Of Doors Suite: The Night's Music
Out Of Doors Suite: The Chase
Romanian Folk Dances: Joc Cu Bata
Romanian Folk Dances: Braul
Romanian Folk Dances: Pe Loc
Romanian Folk Dances: Buciumeano
Romanian Folk Dances: Poarca Romaneasca
Romanian Folk Dances: Maruntel
Sonata: Allegro Moderato
Sonata: Sostenuto E Pesante
Sonata: Allegro Molto
Three Rondos On Folk Tunes: Andante
Three Rondos On Folk Tunes: Vivacissimo
Three Rondos On Folk Tunes: Allegro Molto
Allegro Barbaro
Mikrokosmos: Ostinato
Dance Suite: Moderato
Dance Suite: Allegro Molto
Dance Suit: Allegro vivace
Dance Suite: Molto Tranquillo
Dance Suite: Comodo
Dance Suite: Finale: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Unusually sensitive and fluid Bartok.......2005-02-19

I am so sad to have arrived so late to this CD. It is quite possible that opinions by some reviewers may have helped to doom it, at least on Amazon. As a result, I am sorry to have to inform potential listeners this late in the market cycle, but Max Levinson plays these pieces with a rare degree of virtuosity, flexibility, and sensitivity. As with most music, Bartok's music can be played in any number of ways successfuly, but it is hard to imagine a performance any better than what is presented here.

I will confess that my bias comes from a long-time familiarity with Bartok's own recordings, which show his own brilliance as a pianist. What strikes me about Levinson is how closely he approaches Bartok's own fluid sense of line, harnessed as it is to a rock solid, yet flexible sense of tempo. (My favorite recital from Bartok, in this respect, is his recording of the Beethoven Kreutzer Sonata with Szigetti at the violin.)

The whole effect is given additional depth by his seemingly infinite gradient of touch, which allows him to follow Bartok's sometimes accelerating and repetitive waves with the finest increases in intensity. That same touch, as in The Night's Music from the "Out of Doors Suite" or in the Molto Tranquillo from the "Dance Suite," offers up a multi-dimensional canvas of sound from the lightest breath to the sharpest, yet still softly fleeting pulsation, made altogether whole by a ceaseless forward movement. No matter the languidness of tempo, the motion never stagnates.

These pieces vary greatly in difficulty, yet he approaches them all with an equal wealth of attention to detail. The "Romanian Folk Dances," for example, among the more facile gems, he never rushes, no matter how quickly he dashes them off. He never leaves so much as a note unspoken, or the slightest phrase unexpressed. And, again, his rubato flows ever within the logic of the entire line, never pressed to excess or left dangling in incompleteness.

The "Sonata" and "Allegro barbaro," among the strongest and more difficult of the works, are filled with staccato clusters, yet they sing thanks to his infinitely fluid touch. His sound never spreads even in the most punctuated moments. He never loses the music in what lesser pianists might find only noise.

If you can still find this CD on Amazon (at least a few were still available for my purchase), you should be richly rewarded by it. I recently heard Levinson in concert for the first time and I can only hope that we are fortunate to have more recordings from him. (One other equally rich recording of music from Brahms, Schumann, Schoenberg, and Kirchner is available as of this writing.) It is a sad fact that in our time, pianists who 30 years ago would have inspired a generation can remain all but anonymous. Whether by fate or choice, Max Levinson is clearly one of these.

Not all Music Fans are correct.......2001-03-30

Sorry, Music Fan, but I have to agree with the other reviewer. I bought this CD having heard nothing but wonderful things about Levinson's playing and am incredibly disappointed at the result. After a single listening I took it to a used book store and traded it away. As a Regents' Professor of Piano, I too have played many of these works and am afraid that Levinson's performances are not even up to my students' standards, let alone mine. Please do yourself a favor and do not buy this recording. You will only regret it.

Outstanding Bartók performance.......2001-03-18

Bartók (1881-1945) collected native folk songs from Hungary, North Africa, and the Balkans, as inspiration for his own compositions. His music is high-class, like Mozart's or Beethoven's, yet it expresses a side of humanity far different than that expressed by almost any other composer. Because Bartók was influenced by folk music he conveys the simple elements of life which are often overlooked by those composers influenced by high society. Part of his genius is in his special appreciation for nature. His music seems to draw parallels between humans and nature, perhaps exploring instinct and fear and other aspects of life in the wild.

Perhaps one of the difficulties in performing Bartók is in conveying the music without infusing it with one's own, personal "feelings". Levinson, a young pianist now receiving critical acclaim world-wide, surpasses this difficulty. His interpretations express the full character and vigor of folk music and the dramatic beauty and wildness of nature, with exceptional clarity. His unabashed, bold, yet sensitive style is well suited for this composer. Having performed some of these works myself, including the Sonata, I can recommend this recording as one of the best. Bartók "experts" will appreciate Levinson's command of the instrument and the music, and other first-time listeners will likely find this a refreshing variety of pieces for their classical collection. Some alternative recordings are the live recital recording of the Sonata played by Martha Argerich, and the Out of Doors Suite with pianist Murray Perahia.

Levinson Should Stay Indoors.......2001-02-22

Would it be an exaggeration if I said that this was probably the worst recording of Bartok's solo piano pieces on the market? Probably not. Levinson's playing is flat, colorless, and seemingly devoid of any musicality or feeling. Add to this liner notes that are as cutesy as cutesy can be, and you have a CD that is bound for the bargain bin. Save your money - or better yet, purchase Kovecavich's or Kocsis' wonderful recordings of these pieces.