44 Duos for two violas by Bela Bartok
Transcribed by Donald Maurice and Claudine Bigelow. Published by Editio Musica Budapest
Bela Bartok (1881-1945) was one of Hungary's greatest composers and one of the most outstanding composers of the 20th century. He was a committed modernist, applying the contrapuntal rigor of Bach and Brahms to the broader tonal sensibilities of Debussy and Schoenberg. He was also one of the first ethnomusicologists; he recorded folk music across Eastern Europe with fellow composer Zoltan Kodaly, later incorporating folk song into his own music. He wrote much in the way for strings, including string quartets, concertos, and folk suites.
Bartok wrote his 44 Duos for Two Violins, Sz. 98 on a commission by German violinist and teacher Erich Doflein. They are very short pedagogical pieces based on Eastern European folk music, helping to teach facets of musicianship and ensemble playing-from rhythm, intonation, canon, and early exposure to dissonance and polytonality. They are divided into four books of advancing difficulty, ranging from beginning students to intermediate-advanced players. This transcription of all 44 duos for two violas contains one performance score. Grades 2-3.