DCCLVIII. BARTÓK, Béla: String Quartet #2

DCCLVIII. BARTÓK, Béla (1881-1945)

String Quartet #2 (1915-17)
1. Moderato (10:11)
2. Allegro molto capriccioso (7:18)
3. Lento (9:18)
Emerson String Quartet

1. Moderato

The dissonant minor second introduces the harmonic tension one feels throughout the movement. This melodic arpeggio (always finishing with that downward minor second) is the leitmotif of the movement ...

2. Allegro molto capriccioso

An explosive Hungarian dance! This tritone forms the basis for the crunchy harmony, and the dance begins with this D Minor/Major riff that is greatly developed.



3. Lento

Notice how Bartók carefully increases the size of the intervals -- from a minor second, to a major second, to a major third ... the soundscape gradually opens up ...