Bartók & Berio: Duos for Two Violins

Featuring

Maria Milstein
Mathieu van Bellen
Luciano Berio
Béla Bartók

Did you know?

1/7

Compositional Technique

Bartók's 44 Duos draw on authentic folk tunes from Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Serbian, and even Arabic folklore, which he had been collecting since 1905.

Compositional Technique

Bartók's duos explore various playing techniques, including drone effects, double stops, con sordina, and the 'Bartók pizzicato,' where the string is snapped against the fingerboard.

Composition History

Béla Bartók composed his 44 Duos for Two Violins in 1931 for didactic purposes, initially to arrange piano pieces for two violins (teacher and pupil) but ultimately creating original works.

Composition History

Luciano Berio's Duetti per due violini, composed between 1979 and 1983, were also conceived as didactic pieces, inspired by a violinist friend who noted the lack of violin duets beyond Bartók's.

Composer Biography

Bartók accepted the proposal to compose the duos to replenish his finances, as concert opportunities were scarce for him in 1931.

Compositional Technique

Berio's Duetti feature a kaleidoscope of styles, reflecting his personal connections and incorporating elements like a Russian song, a Sicilian tune, neo-Baroque rhythms, and a cell from Pierre Boulez's work.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Berio dedicated each of his 34 duos to a friend, colleague, or composer, many of whom he knew personally, with the first piece, 'Béla,' being an homage to Bartók.