The Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz. 110, BB 115, is a musical piece written by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók in 1937.[1] The sonata was premiered by Bartók and his second wife, Ditta Pásztory-Bartók, with the percussionists Fritz Schiesser and Philipp Rühlig at the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) anniversary concert of 16 January 1938 in Basel, Switzerland,[2] where it received enthusiastic reviews. Bartók and his wife also played the piano parts for the American premiere which took place in New York City's Town Hall in 1940, with the percussionists Saul Goodman and Henry Deneke.[3] It has since become one of Bartók's most performed works.
The score requires four performers: two pianists and two percussionists, who play seven instruments between them: timpani, bass drum (gran cassa), cymbals, triangle, snare drum (both on- and off- snares), tam-tam (gong) and xylophone. In the published score the composer provides highly detailed instructions for the percussionists, stipulating, for example, which part of a suspended cymbal is to be struck with what type of stick. He also provides precise instructions for the platform layout of the four players and their instruments.[4]
The first movement is in a modified version of traditional sonata form. There are clearly delineated sections – introduction, exposition, development, recapitulation and coda – but Bartók eschews the customary relationships between keys, beginning the movement in F♯ and ending in C major, with excursions into several unexpected keys in between. This structural tritone relationship is not unusual for Bartók; it may be found in many of his other compositions, including the first movement of his well-known work, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. The rhythm of this movement is varied within an overall 9 8 time. The movement is also untypical of classical sonata form in that it constitutes half the playing time of the whole work.[4]
II. Lento, ma non troppoedit
This movement displays the classical "middle movement" ternary A–B–A form. It is an example of Bartók's "night music" idiom.[2]
III. Allegro non troppoedit
The third movement is a rondo-like dance, starting and finishing in C major. The pianos introduce the movement, followed by the xylophone. At the end of the work the last notes of the pianos die away, there is a concluding duet for snare drum and cymbal, and the sonata ends extremely quietly.[4]
Concerto versionedit
In 1940, at the suggestion of his publisher and agent, Heinsheimer, Bartók orchestrated the sonata as Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra. The parts for the four soloists were essentially unchanged.[5] The world premiere was given at the Royal Albert Hall, London, at a Royal Philharmonic Society concert on 14 November 1942, with percussionists Ernest Gillegin and Frederick Bradshaw, the then husband and wife piano team of Louis Kentner and Ilona Kabos, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.[6] The composer and Ditta Pásztory-Bartók were piano soloists in a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on January 21, 1943, with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Fritz Reiner.[7] This was Bartók's final public appearance as a performer.[5] He died of leukemia in 1945.
^ abKárpáti, János; MacNicol, Fred; Steiner, Maria (1994). Bartók's Chamber Music at Google Books, pp. 393–432 (ISBN094519319X) contains material relevant to this article.
^"Saul Goodman" , Percussive Arts Society, accessed 23 April 2013
^ abcCross, Lowell. Notes to Music and Arts CD 648 (1990)
^ abPeters, Rainer. Notes to Neos CD 20901, "Concerti I: Mozart – Liszt – Bartók" (2010)
sonata, pianos, percussion, musical, piece, written, hungarian, composer, béla, bartók, 1937, sonata, premiered, bartók, second, wife, ditta, pásztory, bartók, with, percussionists, fritz, schiesser, philipp, rühlig, international, society, contemporary, music. The Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion Sz 110 BB 115 is a musical piece written by Hungarian composer Bela Bartok in 1937 1 The sonata was premiered by Bartok and his second wife Ditta Pasztory Bartok with the percussionists Fritz Schiesser and Philipp Ruhlig at the International Society for Contemporary Music ISCM anniversary concert of 16 January 1938 in Basel Switzerland 2 where it received enthusiastic reviews Bartok and his wife also played the piano parts for the American premiere which took place in New York City s Town Hall in 1940 with the percussionists Saul Goodman and Henry Deneke 3 It has since become one of Bartok s most performed works Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussionby Bela BartokBartok in 1927CatalogueSz 110 BB 115Composed1937 1937 Performed16 January 1938 1938 01 16 BaselMovementsthreeThe score requires four performers two pianists and two percussionists who play seven instruments between them timpani bass drum gran cassa cymbals triangle snare drum both on and off snares tam tam gong and xylophone In the published score the composer provides highly detailed instructions for the percussionists stipulating for example which part of a suspended cymbal is to be struck with what type of stick He also provides precise instructions for the platform layout of the four players and their instruments 4 Contents 1 Movements 1 1 I Assai lento Allegro molto 1 2 II Lento ma non troppo 1 3 III Allegro non troppo 2 Concerto version 3 Ballet 4 ReferencesMovements editThe work consists of three movements I Assai lento Allegro molto edit nbsp First movement excerpt source source This segment of the sonata features pedal glissandos during a timpani roll Problems playing this file See media help The first movement is in a modified version of traditional sonata form There are clearly delineated sections introduction exposition development recapitulation and coda but Bartok eschews the customary relationships between keys beginning the movement in F and ending in C major with excursions into several unexpected keys in between This structural tritone relationship is not unusual for Bartok it may be found in many of his other compositions including the first movement of his well known work Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta The rhythm of this movement is varied within an overall 98 time The movement is also untypical of classical sonata form in that it constitutes half the playing time of the whole work 4 II Lento ma non troppo edit This movement displays the classical middle movement ternary A B A form It is an example of Bartok s night music idiom 2 III Allegro non troppo edit The third movement is a rondo like dance starting and finishing in C major The pianos introduce the movement followed by the xylophone At the end of the work the last notes of the pianos die away there is a concluding duet for snare drum and cymbal and the sonata ends extremely quietly 4 Concerto version editIn 1940 at the suggestion of his publisher and agent Heinsheimer Bartok orchestrated the sonata as Concerto for Two Pianos Percussion and Orchestra The parts for the four soloists were essentially unchanged 5 The world premiere was given at the Royal Albert Hall London at a Royal Philharmonic Society concert on 14 November 1942 with percussionists Ernest Gillegin and Frederick Bradshaw the then husband and wife piano team of Louis Kentner and Ilona Kabos and the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult 6 The composer and Ditta Pasztory Bartok were piano soloists in a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on January 21 1943 with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Fritz Reiner 7 This was Bartok s final public appearance as a performer 5 He died of leukemia in 1945 Ballet editKenneth MacMillan used this sonata for his 1975 ballet Rituals for The Royal Ballet London 8 References edit Laki Peter 1995 Bartok and his world at Google Books page 11 ISBN 0 691 00633 4 a b Karpati Janos MacNicol Fred Steiner Maria 1994 Bartok s Chamber Music at Google Books pp 393 432 ISBN 094519319X contains material relevant to this article Saul Goodman Percussive Arts Society accessed 23 April 2013 a b c Cross Lowell Notes to Music and Arts CD 648 1990 a b Peters Rainer Notes to Neos CD 20901 Concerti I Mozart Liszt Bartok 2010 Concerts The Times 14 November 1942 p 8 Music Notes The New York Times 21 January 1943 subscription required Rituals kennethmacmillan com Portal nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion amp oldid 1215454474, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
