CCXLI. BARTÓK, Béla: String Quartet #6

 CCXLI. BARTÓK, Béla (1881-1945)

String Quartet #6 (1939)
1. Mesto -- Più mosso, pesante -- vivace
2. Mesto -- Marcia
3. Mesto -- Burletta -- moderato
4. Mesto
Tesla Quartet
(30:09)

The Middle Quartets (#3, 4, and 5) were written in 1927, 1928, and 1934, respectively. They are of such different character than this, his final work for the genre; they seem worlds apart.

And they are. Those earlier works were full of unique, almost indescribable episodes of thrilling, terrifying leaps of imagination, reimagining centuries of writing for the perfectly-formed four-voice string choir that was such a staple of composers through the masterpieces of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

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With the death of his mother and the impending world war, Bartók's last quartet reflects a world-weary gloominess not present in the earlier, more vital works. However different from the middles, The Sixth definitely does not lack passion.

Each movement begins with a dirge-like Mesto (mournful):

First Movement

and the first and seconds spin out one of the main themes (notice the slight differences):

a second theme is introduced:

The movement concludes, spooky:

Second Movement

a slightly longer Mesto, accompanied by shivering tremolos.

A March, quickly broken up into fragments:

Third Movement

Another solemn introduction:

followed by a rough-and-tumble Burletta, reaturing a few quarter-tones!

Reminiscent of the pizzicato movement of the Fourth. Notice the short, nervous  4-note phrase that interrupts the pizz with arco:

Fourth Movement

Is all Mesto and develops it into tragic proportions. The work ends softly, dissolving into nothingness: