Classical Music | Piano Music

Béla Bartók

Dance Suite  Play

Michael Mizrahi Piano

Recorded on 04/25/2006, uploaded on 01/27/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Dance Suite                           Béla Bartók

The music of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók is known for its incorporation of folk melodies and dance rhythms, and this suite is no exception. Originally composed for orchestra in 1923 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the amalgamation of the towns of Buda and Pest, this work brilliantly conveys the character of Hungarian, Romanian, and Arabic folk music.  The suite consists of six sections which are played without pause.  These sections, though wildly different from each other, are held together by a haunting ritornello, which appears after the first, second, fourth and sixth sections.  Every section has a distinct character, culminating in the finale where themes from throughout the piece are tossed about, propelling the work to a sudden, exciting conclusion.  The piano version performed here was arranged by the composer.     Michael Mizrahi