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Portrait of Béla Bartók

Composer

Béla Bartók

Hungarian composer and pianist (1881–1945)

1881–1945

533 works in the index

Born
1881
Died
1945
Birthplace
Sânnicolau Mare
Citizenship / historical state
United States
Period (estimated from birth year)
Modern

Biography

Much of the music that you hear in modern movies has its roots in the sonic landscapes that were pioneered by Béla Bartók. His inventive use of orchestration, harmony, structure and melody still sound fresh and exciting to this day. Born in Hungary in 1881, Bartók was largely considered to be a child prodigy. Bartók frequently remarked that his own melodies were like “imaginary folk tunes”; and as a result most of his compositions exhibit an air of otherworldliness.

Béla had an intense love of folk music, particularly Hungarian and eastern European folk music. He traveled incessantly for a number of years where he wrote very little. He spent those years recording and transcribing folk tunes with a wax-based recording device. Béla Bartók was a complete musician and composer, meaning he had very little interest in other activities outside of music. His concerto for orchestra is one of the most loved (by audiences and orchestras alike) and frequently performed pieces composed in the 20th century. Béla Bartók spent his last years in New York City where he wrote some of his most beloved compositions.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Piano, violin, Organ, Clarinet, Orchestra
Genres represented
Classical, Dance, Folk
Works with composition dates
53 of 533

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 1 of 12

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
Bartók: The First Term — —— Piano— 36
Bartók: 14 Bagatelles, Op. 6 — Op. 6— PianoClassical 28
Bartók: Ten Easy Pieces — —— Piano— 22
Bartók: Album for Piano — —— Piano— 20
Est — —— Piano, Organ, Flute, violinClassical 13
10. Hungarian Folk Song (Erzsi Virag made her bed) — —— Piano— 15
Bartók: Sketches, Op. 9 — Op. 9— PianoClassical 14
Suite No. 2, Op. 4 — Op. 4— Piano, Harp, Organ, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Horn, Clarinet, Timpani, percussion, Viola— 24
2. Bear Dance — —— Piano, Organ, BassoonClassical 12
Sonatina — —— Piano, Organ, violin— 7
7. Folk Song — —— Piano— 10
Pe Loc — —— Piano, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Timpani, percussion, Euphonium, Saxophone— 10
Rhythmic Dance — —— PianoClassical 7
Slovak Peasant's Dance — —— Piano, Clarinet, Viola— 10
Bartók: Four Nenies, Op. 8 — Op. 8— PianoClassical 8
14 Bagatelles Op.6 1908IMSLP Op.6— Piano— 6
Children's Song from For Children, Book 1 — —— Piano— 8
Minuet from First Term at the Piano — —— PianoClassical 7
Two-Part Invention — —— Piano— 6
Dedication — —— Piano— 6
Slow Struggle — —— Piano— 7
Little Scherzo [Sz. 52:82] — —— Piano, Organ— 8
Waltz Additional credits Emil Breslaur — —— Piano— 5
Round Dance from for Children, Part 1 [No. 17] — —— Piano— 6
A Magic Dance from for Children, Book 1 [No. 5] — —— Piano— 8
Folk Tune from For Children, Book 1 [No. 2] — —— Piano— 8
Concerto for Orchestra, Sz.116 1943IMSLP —— OrchestraClassical 6
For Children, Sz.42 1908-09, rev.1945IMSLP —— Piano— 6
Buciumeana — —— Piano, Flute, violin, Bassoon, Double Bass, Timpani, percussion, Euphonium, Saxophone— 9
Children's Game — —— PianoClassical 7
A Magic Game — —— Piano, Organ— 6
17. (No. 17) — —— Piano— 6
Play Song — —— Piano, violinClassical 9
Country Dance — —— Piano— 6
Etude no. 4 — —— Piano— 6
Etude no. 3 — —— Piano— 6
Prelude Additional credits Maurice Ravel — —— Piano— 4
2 Elegies, Op.8b 1908-09IMSLP Op.8b— Piano— 5
Eight Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op.20 1920IMSLP Op.20— Piano— 5
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta 1936-09-07IMSLP —— strings, Celesta— 5
Rhapsody Op.1 1904IMSLP Op.1— Piano— 5
3 Rondos on Slovak Folk Tunes, Sz.84 1916 (1), 1927 (2-3)IMSLP —— Piano— 5
Sonatina, Sz.55 1915IMSLP —— Piano— 7
3 Studies for Piano, Op.18 1918IMSLP Op.18— Piano— 5
Hungarian Tune — —— Piano, violin— 5
The Village Boys — —— Piano— 5
Fluttering Leaves in A Minor [Op. 147, No. 2] Additional credits Carl Kölling — Op. 147, No. 2A minor PianoClassical 5
Divertimento No. 1 in F Major Additional credits Josef Myslivecek — —F major Piano, Organ— 4

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 291161938143739870009. Portrait: RIA Novosti, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.