Béla Bartók, a Hungarian composer, initially gained a considerable reputation as a pianist before his success as a composer.
Composition History
Bartók's "For Children" was written in 1908 and 1909, originally with 85 pieces based on Hungarian and Slovakian folk-tunes.
Performer Biography
Jenő Jandó, the pianist on this recording, has won several piano competitions, including first prize in the 1973 Hungarian Piano Concours.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Phoenix Studio in Budapest, Hungary, from September 24th to 27th, 2002.
Compositional Technique
The pieces in "For Children" are designed for beginners, avoiding octave stretches, and use simple accompaniments to preserve the original character of folk melodies.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bartók developed a deep interest in the folk-music of his own and adjacent countries, collaborating with Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály and Turkish composer Adnan Saygun.
Composition History
Bartók revised "For Children" in the 1930s and again in 1943, adding thirteen new pieces and reducing the total to 79, published posthumously in 1947.
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