Piano Concerto No. 1 (Bartók)

Introduction

Piano concerto by Béla Bartók The Piano Concerto No.

1, Sz.

83, BB 91 of Béla Bartók was composed in 1926.83, BB 91 of Béla Bartók was composed in 1926.

Average playing time is between 23 and 24 minutes.Average playing time is between 23 and 24 minutes.

Background

For almost three years, Bartók had composed little.For almost three years, Bartók had composed little.

He broke that silence with several piano works, one of which was the Piano Concerto, composed between August and November 1926.He broke that silence with several piano works, one of which was the Piano Concerto, composed between August and November 1926.

Premieres

The work was premiered at the fifth International Festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music in Frankfurt on July 1, 1927, with Bartók as the soloist and Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting.The work was premiered at the fifth International Festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music in Frankfurt on July 1, 1927, with Bartók as the soloist and Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting.

The Concerto eventually premiered in the USA on February 13, 1928 in the same venue, with Fritz Reiner conducting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Bartók as the soloist.The Concerto eventually premiered in the USA on February 13, 1928 in the same venue, with Fritz Reiner conducting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Bartók as the soloist.

The importance of the other percussion instruments is illustrated by Bartók’s note: The percussion (including timpani) must be placed directly next to the piano (behind the piano).The importance of the other percussion instruments is illustrated by Bartók’s note: The percussion (including timpani) must be placed directly next to the piano (behind the piano).

This note is omitted in a number of printed scores, restored in recent printings.This note is omitted in a number of printed scores, restored in recent printings.

Bartók wrote of the concerto: "My first concerto I consider it a successful work, although its style is up to a point difficult, perhaps even very difficult for the orchestra and the public."Bartók wrote of the concerto: "My first concerto I consider it a successful work, although its style is up to a point difficult, perhaps even very difficult for the orchestra and the public."

Instrumentation

The concerto is scored for an orchestra consisting of a solo piano, two flutes (one doubling on piccolo), two oboes (one doubling on cor anglais), two clarinets (one doubling on bass clarinet), two bassoons, four horns (in F), two trumpets (in C), three trombones, timpani, two snare drums (one with snares and one without), bass drum, four cymbals, triangle, tamtam, and strings.The concerto is scored for an orchestra consisting of a solo piano, two flutes (one doubling on piccolo), two oboes (one doubling on cor anglais), two clarinets (one doubling on bass clarinet), two bassoons, four horns (in F), two trumpets (in C), three trombones, timpani, two snare drums (one with snares and one without), bass drum, four cymbals, triangle, tamtam, and strings.