Oh Bartók’s been a favourite of mine for many years. I remember being blown away the first time I heard Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta and I set out to listen to everything by him and there won’t be much—certainly no major work—I’ve not heard and most of it I own copies of. Hard to pick a favourite. Possibly Piano Concerto No 3 but really I’ve heard nothing by him I haven’t loved.
Yes, I love the 3rd as well, particularly the last two movements. When I was learning to play the piano, he was a firm favourite because he wrote pieces that were very easy, but always quirky and interesting. In some ways, Bartok's ability to write a musically interesting piece for a level as low as Grade 2 piano impressed me even more than the pyrotechnics of the concertos.
In the days when I was good on the piano (ie when I practiced), I loved playing these, and some of his jazz-inflected Mikrocosmos pieces. Fantastic stuff!
Personally I prefer Glenn Miller or the Moody Blues or a good heavy metal rock band...a lot of classical music is so morose, it makes me suicidal. Just call me Phyllis Stein....
Oh Bartók’s been a favourite of mine for many years. I remember being blown away the first time I heard Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta and I set out to listen to everything by him and there won’t be much—certainly no major work—I’ve not heard and most of it I own copies of. Hard to pick a favourite. Possibly Piano Concerto No 3 but really I’ve heard nothing by him I haven’t loved.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the 3rd as well, particularly the last two movements. When I was learning to play the piano, he was a firm favourite because he wrote pieces that were very easy, but always quirky and interesting. In some ways, Bartok's ability to write a musically interesting piece for a level as low as Grade 2 piano impressed me even more than the pyrotechnics of the concertos.
ReplyDeleteIn the days when I was good on the piano (ie when I practiced), I loved playing these, and some of his jazz-inflected Mikrocosmos pieces. Fantastic stuff!
ReplyDeleteYes. Have you ever looked at Dumneazu's blog - he goes straight to the source and records it on his mobile phone now and then.
ReplyDeleteAnnabel - Microkosmos is wonderful. I also loved 'For Children', which had some genuinely beautiful moments.
ReplyDeleteZoe - No I haven't. I shall Google them now.
Personally I prefer Glenn Miller or the Moody Blues or a good heavy metal rock band...a lot of classical music is so morose, it makes me suicidal. Just call me Phyllis Stein....
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a good heavy metal band? ;)
ReplyDeleteRE: a good heavy metal band
ReplyDeleteIt all depends on your tolerance for noise, I guess!
My dad was a musician, and the jam sessions and practice sessions were endless, so my tolerance to noise is pretty high ....