Béla Bartók

Hungarian composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist (1881–1945) who integrated folk music into a modern classical language and is a key figure of 20th-century music.

Born 1881 in Nagyszentmiklós (then Kingdom of Hungary, now Sânnicolau Mare, Romania); died 1945. Pioneer of ethnomusicology; collaborated with Zoltán Kodály. Piano played a central role in his work; composed important pedagogical works (For Children, Mikrokosmos) and influential solo piano pieces (Allegro barbaro, Out of Doors, Piano Sonata).

A detailed, enthusiastic review of an 8-disc Bartók solo-piano box highlighting his development from folk-based studies to mature modernism. Key pieces discussed include the 14 Bagatelles, Allegro barbaro, Mikrokosmos, Piano Sonata and Out of Doors. The performance and immersion by pianist Zoltán Kocsis are highly praised.

For:piano enthusiasts, classical-music listeners, students of 20th-century composition