May 08, 2026

Béla Bartók (1881-1945)

1 hour 10 minutes

Béla Bartók was regarded as one of Hungary’s greatest composers. His fellow countryman, the pianist Andras Schiff, called him “one of the giants in the history of music.” But he was also one of the founders of what we now call ethnomusicology, spending much of his time immersed in peasant life, collecting folk songs. As around him Europe was torn apart by conflict, Bartók found relief in rural life and took inspiration from these traditional tunes, incorporating them into his own compositions.

Music featured:

Romanian Folk Dances

Rhapsody for piano, Op. 1, BB36a, Sz. 26

Kossuth Symphonic Poem Sz21

Szekely Folksong, BB 34, "Piros alma"

3 Hungarian Folksongs from Csik, BB 45b, Sz. 35a

Eight Hungarian Folksongs

Allegro Barbaro

14 Bagatelles

For Children

Violin Concerto No. 1, BB48a, Sz 36: Andante sostenuto

7 Sketches, BB 54, Sz. 44

Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11

Four Dirges, Op. 9a

The Wooden Prince, Sz. 60

Village Scenes, Sz. 79

5 songs Op. 15

Hungarian Folksongs (5), for voice & orchestra, BB. 108, Sz. 101

44 Duos for Two Violins, BB 104, Sz. 98

Out of Doors, Sz. 81

Mikrokosmos, Book V

String Quartet No. 6, Sz 114

Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119

Presented by Donald Macleod

Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales and West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Béla Bartók (1881-1945) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002vl6f

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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By BBC Radio 3

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