Bela Bartok and Why You Should Care

Lyle Raymond:

Béla Bartók receives frequent mention in music history and appreciation classes, I presume because his music is an accessible entry point to the 20th century for casual listeners. Pianists are likely to have gotten to know him through Mikrokosmos. But for me, he is one of the great composers of string quartets. And I love string quartets.

As you watch this, ask yourself how many passages you might not have taken note of if you weren’t watching live performers. If there was ever an illustration of the importance of experiencing music visually, this is it. Without a trained ear, no artist should assume his audience can discern specific points of interest in an arrangement. In a live performance, the audience’s attention is prompted with visual cues.

I believe Bartók’s music to be of particular interest to guitarists, especially those who are into metalcore and its various related subgenres, because of its motivic, “riff-like” nature.