Béla Bartók: Piano Concertos no. 1, 2 and 3

Béla Bartók: Hungarian composer, 25.3.1881 — 26.9 1945

from en.wikipedia.org

In his fourties, a friend of mine recently became interested in classical music. Him being practically a virgin with classical composers, I then suggested to him some music. But as as always, you get when you give, and in return he pointed out some composers and their works for me as well. The guy is a pretty good amateur rock musician and has a fresh view on classical music: no prejudice, no scorn nor unnecessary respect on any composer from previous experience, music is either good, mediocre or bad, and that's one reason why I have pretty good confidence in his opinions.

Few months ago he told me, that he had listened to Bartok's whole output. "Wow, that's quite an accomplishment", I thought. I myself had only listened to "Concerto for Orchestra" (which I liked)  and Conerto for Viola" (which I didn't like) and asked him, what Bartók's music would he suggest me to start with. He recommended Piano concertos, violin concertos and the ballet "The Miraculous Mandarin". I shall probably listen to all them, but first I dived into the three Piano Concertos.

I write about the concertos in the order, that I listened to them. I hope this gives my view fresh and indedependent tone. I listened to all concertos one time through, in sequential days, with the help of the score. So don't expect to hear any heavy analysis. This is just the first impression, more or less. Anyhow, I promise not to describe how "Bartok treats piano as a percussion instrument", a cliche that is always pointed out when Bartók's piano music is referred.

Piano Concerto No. 3

This was the Concerto I liked best of all three. I found the concerto sophisticated, well balanced and imaginative. So you can well understand my surprise, when I found out that Bartok was not able to finish the concerto before his death. However that only concerns the orchestration, which was completed by his pupil Tibor Serly. How well Bartók's pupil has accomplished his master's orchestral style, I don't know. The orchestration sounds alright to me, perhaps little concervative, but even that sounded to me only pleasant and charming - as the concerto's melodic and harmonic style is also quite concervative (in a good way). There are fast and brisk parts in concerto, but not in an overflowing style, as  in Bartók's works so often. And piano part is imaginative and virtuous, but still airy and quite easy to listen. Second part is a choral-like music, with almost 19th century harmony. Very nice music and very easy to listen, and that goes pretty much for the whole concerto.

Blocker's Verdict: 4/5

Piano Concerto No. 2

This is clearly the "Masterpiece" of all three concertos. It's wild, aggressive, ambitious and difficult to the extreme. Keyboard is banged and knocked and sprinted by soloist as the performer would be in the danger of life. The second part has more peaceful parts, with open fifth chords that reminds me of the later composed 11the symphony of Shostakovich. That made me also come to to think of the difference of Bartók and Shostakovich as composers. Both are clearly great composers, use much same tehcnics and tricks, but still sound quite different. The main reason for this is, I think, that Bartók's music lacks the dramatic form of music, which is so typical for Shostakovich, especially in his symphonies. What Bartók also lacks is Shostakovich's overly mannered style. Both of these "lacks" do not of course make Bartók any worse composer (or Shostakovich for that matter) just different, with different composer's aestethics.

Blocker's Verdict: 4/5

Piano Concerto No. 1

Now this was the only disappointment to me of all the three concertos. The first movement is the worst: Trifling music with neoclassical rhythms and dissonating and disturbing harmonies. If you think otherwise, then please, I beg you,  leave a comment with good arguments and I will listen to the concerto again. Otherwise this was probably the start and end for me with this piece of music. Second movement was better, a kind of funeral march but still easily forgotten music. The third movement was clearly the best, almost reaching the brilliance of second piano concerto time to time, and almost saving the whole concerto, but not quite.

Blocker's Verdict: 3/5

Word of the day: trifling = trivial, or of little importance.