Bartók Béla – Works For Piano Solo 1 Oeuvres Pour Piano - Klavierwerke (Audio CD)

(Philips Audio CD, 1992 / 434 104-2)

Product Information

• UPC: 028943410427
• Label: Philips (434 104-2)
• Format: Audio CD, Album
• Country: Europe
• Release Year: 1992
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Modern, Folk
• Composer: Béla Bartók (1881–1945)
• Performer (Piano): Zoltán Kocsis
• Duration: Approximately 54 minutes (as per MusicBrainz info, though track list here totals 50+ minutes)
• ISMN: [Not directly provided here but seen as part of catalog information]
• Produced by: Philips Classics
• Art Direction: George Cramer
• Engineer: Kees De Visser
• Liner Notes: András Wilheim, Giovanni Bietti, Jürgen Hunkemöller, Pierre-E. Barbier
• Photography: Richard Holt
• Producer: Wilhelm Hellweg
• Production Manager: Anna Barry

Overview

Works For Piano Solo 1 is a comprehensive collection of solo piano compositions by Béla Bartók, performed by the eminent Hungarian pianist Zoltán Kocsis. This 1992 Philips Audio CD brings together a diverse set of works that exemplify Bartók’s modernist ingenuity as well as his deep connection to folk music traditions. The album features a series of short, evocative pieces including 14 Bagatelles (Op. 6), 2 Elegies (Op. 8b), 6 Romanian Folk Dances (Sz. 56), a Sonatina (Sz. 55), and 3 Hungarian Folk Tunes (Sz. 66).

Bartók, celebrated as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, was also a pioneering pianist and ethnomusicologist whose extensive field research shaped his innovative musical language. With this recording, Zoltán Kocsis meticulously interprets Bartók’s piano works, revealing their rhythmic vitality, intricate textures, and cultural depth.

Product Features

Format & Audio Quality

• High-Fidelity Production:
  • The Philips production features clear, balanced stereo sound, capturing the dynamic range and intimate details of Bartók’s piano writing.
• Expert Performance:
  • Zoltán Kocsis, renowned for his international virtuosity and sensitive musical interpretation, offers an authoritative rendition of Bartók’s works.

Repertoire and Musical Insight

• Diverse Program:
  • 14 Bagatelles, Sz. 38 (Op. 6):
    • A collection of 14 short miniatures reflecting Bartók’s flair for concise, yet emotionally potent musical ideas.
  • 2 Elegies, Sz. 41 (Op. 8b):
    • Two contemplative pieces that offer introspective depth and lyrical beauty.
  • 6 Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56:
    • Vibrant and rhythmically engaging dances that reveal Bartók’s profound connection with Eastern European folk music.
  • Sonatina, Sz. 55:
    • A light, graceful work that contrasts with the more dramatic pieces in the collection.
  • 3 Hungarian Folk Tunes, Sz. 66:
    • These pieces provide a distilled expression of Hungarian folk idioms, rendered with clarity and spirited nuance.

Educational & Cultural Value

• Modern and Folk Fusion:
  • The repertoire encapsulates Bartók’s innovative integration of modernist elements with traditional folk melodies, making it an essential study for students of 20th-century piano music.
• Detailed Liner Notes:
  • Accompanying essays and annotations by respected musicologists offer valuable insights into Bartók’s compositional process, performance practice, and cultural significance.
• Historical Importance:
  • This album documents Bartók’s groundbreaking idea of treating the entire orchestra as a collective soloist (transposed here to his solo piano vocabulary) and his dedication to preserving folk music traditions.

Track Listing

1. 14 Bagatelles, Sz. 38 (Op. 6)

1. Molto Sostenuto – 1:20
2. Allegro Giocoso – 0:46
3. Andante – 0:45
4. Grave – 1:05
5. Vivo – 1:01
6. Lento – 1:41
7. Allegretto Molto Capriccioso – 2:04
8. Andante Sostenuto – 2:03
9. Allegretto Grazioso – 2:10
10. Allegro – 2:07
11. Allegretto Molto Rubato – 1:58
12. Rubato – 3:57
13. Lento Funebre (Elle Est Morte) – 2:12
14. Waltz (Presto) – 1:54

2. 2 Elegies, Sz. 41 (Op. 8b)

1. Grave – 6:40
2. Molto Adagio, Sempre Rubato – 7:56

3. 6 Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56

1. Stick Dance – 1:04
2. Sash Dance – 0:27
3. In One Spot – 0:51
4. Horn Dance – 1:23
5. Romanian Polka – 0:26
6. Fast Dance – 0:50

4. Sonatina, Sz. 55

1. Allegretto - Allegro – 1:32
2. Moderato – 0:36
3. Allegro Vivace – 1:43

5. 3 Hungarian Folk Tunes, Sz. 66

1. Andante Tranquillo, Rubato – 0:58
2. Allegro Non Troppo, Un Poco Rubato – 1:06
3. Maestoso – 1:38

Publishers

This recording is released by Philips under their classical series and remains a benchmark for Bartók’s solo piano works. It reflects both the meticulous editorial care and the deep interpretative insight of Zoltán Kocsis, making it an indispensable addition for collectors, students, and scholars of modern piano music.

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