DLXXIX. BARTÓK, Béla: Hungarian Sketches

DLXXIX. BARTÓK, Béla (1881-1945)

Hungarian Sketches (1931)
1. An Evening in the Village
2. Bear Dance
3. Melody
4. Slightly Tipsy
5. Swineherd's Dance
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Reiner, cond.
(10:45)

Bartók orchestrated these piano pieces, composed between 1908-11 -- hoping to earn some coin. The work follows his beloved arch structure (see Post CV), with a central slow movement with 2&4 being scherzos and 1&5 being strong, meaty movements.

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Fritz Reiner met Bartók in 1905. Despite a six-year age difference, they become very good friends. Reiner pioneered his music his entire career. This recording -- from 1958 -- has been lovingly remastered and sounds as if it was made yesterday ...

1. An Evening in the Village

(from Ten Easy Pieces, No. 5)

2. Bear Dance

(from Ten Easy Pieces, No. 10)

3. Melody

(from Four Dirges, No. 2)

4. Slightly Tipsy

(from Three Burlesques, No. 2)

5. Swineherd's Dance

(from For Children, No. 40)