Foregoers

b. 3/25/1881, Nagyszentmiklós, Hungary, d. 9/26/1945, New York Composer

Béla Bartók was one of the most significant musicians of the twentieth century. His music was invigorated by the themes, modes, and rhythmic patterns of the Hungarian and other folk music traditions he studied, which he synthesized with influences from his contemporaries into his own distinctive style.

In 1940 Bartók sadly left war-torn Europe to live in New York, which he found alien. He gave concerts, but his finances were precarious, as increasingly was his health.

Among his numerous works the most famous are: Allegro Barbaro, Bluebeard’s Castle, The Miraculous Mandarin, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Concerto.