Several of the world's great composers showed great potential at an early age. Bela Bartok, the Hungarian composer, was no exception. He gave a piano recital for friends of his family when he was four years old, playing music he had composed himself.
As well as being one of the twentieth century's foremost composers he was also a concert pianist. Eventually, after a distinguished career as a pianist, he relinquished the concert tour to become the head of piano instruction at the Budapest Institute. He held this post for 25 years. During this period he created several pieces based on the works of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven that are highly regarded as teaching pieces.
Although well regarded for his orchestral and solo violin and piano works, Bartok had a predilection for the folk music of different countries, but particularly that of Hungary. Much of his knowledge of this type of music is reputed to have been derived from listening to a Hungarian folk singer.
Bartok was influenced mainly by European composers in his early days. The unrest in Europe in the late 1930s decided him to emigrate to America as did many of his fellow Hungarians. This provided an opportunity for him to become acquainted with the music of American musicians and composers. This extended the range of his musical compositions, allowing him to produce music for musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin.
The composer wrote a few dramatic works which were not quite as popular as his orchestral, piano and chamber music compositions. The music elite in his country at the time were fairly conventional and didn't take too kindly to some of his ballets. One in fact was banned after its first performance as its subject matter was considered to be in poor taste.
Bartok's personal life was unsettled. He was married twice, the first marriage ending in divorce. His strong political feelings also caused problems for him during the 1930s when he steadfastly refused to allow his works to be performed in Germany or Italy.
The house where Bela Bartok lied in Budapest was turned into a museum dedicated to his life. It was opened one hundred years after his birth. Although he faced criticism of some of his music during his life, he is now thought of as amongst the greatest of Hungary's composers. Although he died in New York his remains were transferred to Budapest in 1988.
Bela Bartok
As well as being one of the twentieth century's foremost composers he was also a concert pianist. Eventually, after a distinguished career as a pianist, he relinquished the concert tour to become the head of piano instruction at the Budapest Institute. He held this post for 25 years. During this period he created several pieces based on the works of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven that are highly regarded as teaching pieces.
Although well regarded for his orchestral and solo violin and piano works, Bartok had a predilection for the folk music of different countries, but particularly that of Hungary. Much of his knowledge of this type of music is reputed to have been derived from listening to a Hungarian folk singer.
Bartok was influenced mainly by European composers in his early days. The unrest in Europe in the late 1930s decided him to emigrate to America as did many of his fellow Hungarians. This provided an opportunity for him to become acquainted with the music of American musicians and composers. This extended the range of his musical compositions, allowing him to produce music for musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin.
The composer wrote a few dramatic works which were not quite as popular as his orchestral, piano and chamber music compositions. The music elite in his country at the time were fairly conventional and didn't take too kindly to some of his ballets. One in fact was banned after its first performance as its subject matter was considered to be in poor taste.
Bartok's personal life was unsettled. He was married twice, the first marriage ending in divorce. His strong political feelings also caused problems for him during the 1930s when he steadfastly refused to allow his works to be performed in Germany or Italy.
The house where Bela Bartok lied in Budapest was turned into a museum dedicated to his life. It was opened one hundred years after his birth. Although he faced criticism of some of his music during his life, he is now thought of as amongst the greatest of Hungary's composers. Although he died in New York his remains were transferred to Budapest in 1988.
Bela Bartok
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