Bartók & Kodály: The Complete String Quartets (2013)

The six string quartets of Béla Bartók are widely acknowledged to be central masterpieces of modernism, as well as seminal works of 20th century music generally, but the two string quartets of Zoltán Kodály, Bartók's friend and colleague in Hungarian ethnomusicology, were less significant and are comparatively neglected. Packaging them together with Bartók's set makes sense, if piggy-backing them will bring them greater exposure, but they suffer in proximity to such revered masterpieces, and their weaknesses are made ... Read More

The six string quartets of Béla Bartók are widely acknowledged to be central masterpieces of modernism, as well as seminal works of 20th century music generally, but the two string quartets of Zoltán Kodály, Bartók's friend and colleague in Hungarian ethnomusicology, were less significant and are comparatively neglected. Packaging them together with Bartók's set makes sense, if piggy-backing them will bring them greater exposure, but they suffer in proximity to such revered masterpieces, and their weaknesses are made apparent. While nearly contemporary, and owing much to Debussy and Richard Strauss, these composers' youthful quartets are comparable in their passionate melodies and rich harmonies, and the emerging folk song elements are readily found in each. However, Bartók's music grew more adventurous in the string quartets Nos. 3-6, and they proved to be more innovative and influential, practically serving as a "composer's bible" of extended string techniques and an inspiration to the mid-century... Read Less