Composer: Béla Bartók
Performer: Fülöp Ránki
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8574340
Release: 2021
Size: 918 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
3 Studies, BB 81, Sz. 72, Op. 18
01. No. 1, Allegro molto
02. No. 2, Andante sostenuto
03. No. 3, Rubato – Molto sostenuto
04. Rhapsody for piano, Op. 1, BB36a, Sz. 26
For Children, Sz. 42
05. No. 25, Eve Eats an Apple. Allegro
06. No. 29, Dinner at My House. Allegro
07. No. 17, The Young Bride. Adagio [Original Version]
08. No. 26, Dance with Me. Andante
09. No. 34, Evening Kiss. Andante
10. No. 21, Vigoroso. Allegro rubusto [Transcr. F. Ránki] [1945 Radio Version]
11. No. 26, Dance with Me. Andante [Transcr. F. Ránki] [1945 Radio Version]
12. No. 65, The Old Shepherd. Molto rubato, non troppo lento
13. No. 69, High Spirits. Allegro
14. No. 47, Bird of Flight. Molto andante
15. No. 53, Sweetheart, Wait for Me. Lento
16. No. 78, Roses for My Sweetheart. Largo
17. No. 79, On the Banks of the Danube. Molto tranquillo
18. Variations on a Theme by F.F, BB 22
Béla Bartók’s formative years as a composer in Budapest were stimulated by fashionable musical salons hosted by the wealthy Emma Gruber (later Zoltán Kodály’s wife). His landmark Rhapsody, Op. 1 is dedicated to Gruber, while the earlier Variations are a romantic homage to his talented colleague Felicie Fábián, composer of the theme.
The virtuoso Études focus on hand flexibility for pianists – the pieces For Children are based on Hungarian and Slovak peasant songs partly collected by Bartók. These revelatory sounds caused Bartók to change his approach to composing. He likened the arranging of a peasant melody to “the mounting of a jewel”, producing extremely effective miniature masterpieces of graceful perfection.