Four Orchestral Pieces, Op. 12

Composer: BARTÓK, Béla
  • Bartók composed his 4 Orchestral Pieces BB64, Op. 12, in 1912. He orchestrated the set in 1921.1
  • When he composed this, Bartók was discouraged about writing orchestral music, due to scarcity of performances of his orchestral works2 and because he was not accepted in the prominent musical culture of Hungary. He wasn’t interested in orchestrating the work until there was a performance opportunity.3 Eventually it premiered in 1922 in Budapest.4
  • Listen for: influence of Debussy and musical Impressionism; evocation of a waltz sound.5.

Sources

  1. Malcolm Gillies, “Bartók, Béla,” Grove Music Online (Oxford University Press, 2001), accessed July 18, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000040686.
  2. Phillip Huscher, “Program Notes: Béla Bartók: Four Pieces for Orchestra, Op.12,” Chicago Symphony Orchestra, accessed July 18, 2019, https://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Bartok_4Pieces.pdf.
  3. Malcolm Gillies, “Bartók, Béla,” Grove Music Online (Oxford University Press, 2001), accessed July 18, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000040686.
  4. Phillip Huscher, “Program Notes: Béla Bartók: Four Pieces for Orchestra, Op.12,” Chicago Symphony Orchestra, accessed July 18, 2019, https://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Bartok_4Pieces.pdf.
  5. Ibid.

Cut IDs

18084 18085