194
Chapter 51
Béla Bartók
Concerto for Orchestra
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
Wind Timbres
Profile: Béla Bartók (1881 1945)
Expand Your Playlist: Bartók
Folk-Inflected Melodies
Asymmetrical-Symmetrical Form
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
51.2 Listen for the broadly symmetrical form of the movement.
51.3 Identify the form based on instrumental timbre in this movement.
influenced by folk music of various kinds.
-composer-performer.
Key Concepts
orchestration, instruments of the orchestra, symmetrical form, folk melodies,
ethnomusicology
Chapter Highlight: Orchestral Virtuosity
Bartók collected folk melodies not only from his native Hungary, but from other regions
of Europe and the world as well, and the melodies of his own compositions, as in this
movement from the Concerto for Orchestra, reflect these unusual melodies in their
195
Chapter Summary
Béla Bartók was commissioned to write his Concerto for Orchestra (1943) by Koussevitsky,
and immigrated from his native Hungary to the United States. The composition was very
successful and helped him gain popularity in the United States.
The Concerto for Orchestra features all of the sections of the orchestra. This second
symmetrical. But Bartók does not simply bring A back at the end: he alters the orchestration and
Listening Guide
ds has numbered
corresponding changes in timbre in the Timbre column. The supporting instruments receive
their own Timbre column so that students can listen for both the main melody and the
accompaniment. In contrast to most other chapters, the Form column is placed on the far right.
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide: Béla Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, second movement
Chapter Audio: Chapter 51
Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
1. ration to the
196
3. Rodeo (Chapter 50). How are they
alike and how do they differ? Do you think that reflects differences in the cultures of the two
composers?
Activities and Exercises
1. Divide the class into several groups. Assign each group a country or region of the world to
study and find examples of folk music. Each group should create a presentation to be made in
class or uploaded to MediaShare.
Journaling Prompt
In addition to his work as a composer, Bartók was famous as an ethnomusicologist a
person who studies music as an aspect of culture. Do you think the study of music in this
way is significant? Why or why not?