Bartók: Divertimento & Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta

Description

The two works on this album were commissioned in the 1930s by conductor Paul Sacher for the orchestra he had founded in 1926, the Basel Chamber Orchestra. This orchestra was renowned for its bold programming, often blending Baroque repertoire with contemporary works. Bartók's Divertimento, through its use of instrumental groups, evokes the Baroque concerto grosso, and the title "divertimento" recalls the many works by Mozart in this style. Conversely, the first of the two commissions defies any musical categorization: Bartók simply titled it Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. The term "strings" here refers to the harp and piano. The term "percussion" includes not only timpani, but also the snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, and xylophone, not to mention the crystalline sound of the celesta. It is a magnificent score, culminating in a brilliant finale with dance rhythms and folkloric syncopations.