Philips
Zoltán Kocsis plays Bartók
About This Album
To Bartók, the piano was a modernist percussion instrument of hammers and wires and pedals, an instrument that couldn't be less suited for the long legato lines and smooth, sculpted sound of nineteenth century piano music, but that also couldn't be more suited for the sharp-cornered, hard-edged sound of twentieth century piano music, particularly Bartók's own piano music. And while earlier pianists have tried to capture Bartók's particularly percussive style of piano writing, nearly all of them were brought up in the nineteenth century and thus, intentionally or not, rounded off Bartók's corners and blunted his edges. Not Zoltán Kocsis; as a Hungarian pianist, Kocsis was born playing Bartók's melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, and as a twentieth century pianist, Kocsis is utterly at home in Bartók's sharp, hard, and edgy world. In this complete set of all Bartók's music for solo piano, Kocsis turns in what may be the finest set of the music in recorded history. Everything from the easiest Microkosmos through the insanely demanding Allegro barbaro is brilliantly performed, thoroughly convincing, and absolutely enjoyable, and nothing sounds long, smooth, or round. While certainly not intended to be listened to all in one sitting, Kocsis' Bartók set is the one to have if you're having only one. Philips' piano sound is, as always, crisp, vivid, and just about real. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
Track List

Disc 1

Bagatelles (14) For Piano, Sz. 38, BB 50 (Op. 6)
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Elegies (2) (Két Elégia), For Piano, Sz. 41, BB 49 (Op.8b)
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Romanian Folk Dances (6) (Román Népi Táncok), For Piano, Sz. 56, Bb 68
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Sonatina For Piano (On Romanian Folk Tunes), Sz. 55, Bb 69
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Hungarian Folk Tunes (3), For Piano, Sz. 66, BB 80b
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Disc 2

Romanian Dances (2) (Ket Román Tánc), For Piano, Sz. 43, BB 56 (Op. 8a)
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Hungarian Folksongs From Csík (3) (Három Csík Megyei Népdal), For Piano, Sz. 35a, Bb 45b
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Allegro Barbaro, For Piano, Sz. 49, Bb 63
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Dirges (4) (Négy Siratóének), For Piano, Sz. 45, BB 58 (Op.9a)
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Suite For Piano, Sz. 62, BB 70 (Op. 14)
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Romanian Christmas Carols, Pieces (20) In 2 Series For Piano, Sz. 57, BB 67
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Studies (3) (Etudök) For Piano, Sz. 72, BB 81 (Op. 18)
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Rondos (3) On Slovak Folktunes, For Piano, Sz. 84, Bb 92
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The First Term At The Piano (Kezdok Zongoramuzsikáya), Teaching Pieces (18) For Piano, Sz. 53/BB 66
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Disc 3

For Children (Gyermekeknek), Teaching Pieces (85) Without Octaves In 4 Volumes For Piano, Sz. 42, BB 53
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Disc 4

Piano Sonata, Sz. 80, BB 88
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Out Of Doors (Szabadban), Suite For Piano, Sz. 81, BB 89
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Little Piano Pieces (9) (Kilenc Kis Zongoradarab), Sz. 82, BB 90
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Petite Suite For Piano (arranged From 44 Violin Duos 28, 38, 43, 16, 36,& 32), Sz.105, BB 113
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Disc 5

Mikrokosmos, Progressive Pieces (153) For Piano In 6 Volumes, Sz. 107, Bb 105
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Disc 6

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Disc 7

Burlesques (3) For Piano, Sz. 47, BB 55 (Op. 8c)
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Sketches (7) (Vázlatok), For Piano, Sz. 44, BB 54 (Op. 9b)
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Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) For Piano, Sz. 71, Bb 79
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Improvisations (8) On Hungarian Peasant Songs For Piano, Sz. 74, BB 83 (Op. 20)
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Ten Easy Pieces (Tiz Könnyu Zongoradarab), For Piano, Sz. 39, BB 51
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Disc 8

Dance Suite (Táncszvit), For Piano, Sz. 77, BB 86b (reduced From Orchestral Score)
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Rhapsody For Piano, Sz. 26, BB 36a (Op. 1)
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Pieces (4) For Piano, BB 27, DD 71
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Kossuth, Symphonic Poem For Orchestra, Sz. 21, BB 31
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Rhapsody For Piano, Sz. 26, BB 36a (Op. 1)
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