Composer

:

Béla Bartók

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite from larger work

Compose Date

:

1927

Average_duration

:

19:04

Béla Bartók's "The Miraculous Mandarin" is a suite for orchestra, Sz. 73a, Op. 19, composed in 1918-1919. The piece was based on a pantomime ballet of the same name, which was banned after its premiere due to its controversial subject matter. The suite, however, was well-received and has become a staple of the orchestral repertoire. The suite is comprised of five movements, each of which depicts a different scene from the ballet. The first movement, "Introduction," sets the stage with a dark and foreboding theme that introduces the main characters of the story. The second movement, "The Mandarin's Entrance," features a frenzied and dissonant theme that represents the Mandarin's violent and aggressive nature. The third movement, "The Girl's Seduction," is a hauntingly beautiful piece that depicts the girl's seduction of the Mandarin. The fourth movement, "The Mandarin's Chase," is a fast-paced and intense piece that represents the chase scene as the Mandarin pursues the girl and her accomplices. The final movement, "The Mandarin's Death," is a dramatic and powerful piece that depicts the Mandarin's death at the hands of the girl's accomplices. The suite is characterized by Bartók's use of dissonance, complex rhythms, and unconventional orchestration. The piece is often cited as an example of Bartók's "night music" style, which is characterized by its dark and eerie atmosphere. "The Miraculous Mandarin" suite premiered in 1926, seven years after the ballet was banned. The suite has since become a popular piece in the orchestral repertoire and is often performed in concert halls around the world.

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