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Painted Flowers

Bartók meets a fellow folk song collector. Donald Macleod explores the life of one of Hungary's greatest composers, who travelled Europe recording folk songs.

Bartók meets a fellow folk song collector.

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.

In today's programme, Donald Macleod discovers how Bartók met Zoltán Kodály, a kindred spirit who shared Bartók's love of folk song.

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

Eight Hungarian Folksongs
Polina Pasztircsak, soloist
Aleksandra Sasha Kozlov, piano

Allegro Barbaro
Cédric Tiberghien, piano

14 Bagatelles - excerpt
Cédric Tiberghien, piano

For Children
James Ehnes, violin
Andrew Armstrong, piano

Violin Concerto No. 1, BB48a, Sz 36: Andante sostenuto
Vilde Frang, violin
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mikko Franck

Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West

28 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Béla Bartók

    Three Hungarian Folksongs from the Csik District, Sz. 35a

    Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 486 168 1.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 5.
  • Béla Bartók

    Eight Hungarian Folksongs, Sz. 64

    Performer: Aleksandra Sasha Kozlov. Singer: Polina Pastirchak.
    • LA DOLCE VOLTA : LDV-217.
    • LA DOLCE VOLTA.
    • 12.
  • Béla Bartók

    Allegro Barbaro, Sz. 49

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • HYPERION : CDA 68133.
    • HYPERION.
    • 21.
  • Béla Bartók

    Bagatelles, Op. 6 (selection)

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
    • HYPERION : CDA 68133.
    • HYPERION.
    • 9.
  • Béla Bartók

    For Children (selection)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Performer: Andrew Armstrong.
    • CHANDOS : CHAN-10752.
    • CHANDOS.
    • 18.
  • Béla Bartók

    Violin Concerto No.1, Sz. 36 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Vilde Frang. Orchestra: French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Mikko Franck.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 9029566255.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Tuesday16:00

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