Composer

:

Béla Bartók

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1945

Average_duration

:

24:11

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, was composed between 1945 and 1946, during the composer's final years. The work was premiered on February 8, 1946, in Philadelphia, with the composer himself as the soloist and Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. The concerto is divided into three movements, with a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, marked Allegretto, begins with a lively and rhythmic theme in the orchestra, which is then taken up by the piano. The movement features a number of contrasting sections, including a lyrical second theme and a more subdued middle section. The movement ends with a return to the opening material. The second movement, marked Adagio religioso, is a slow and contemplative piece that features a hauntingly beautiful melody in the piano. The orchestra provides a delicate accompaniment, with the strings and woodwinds adding subtle color to the piano's melody. The movement builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet coda. The final movement, marked Allegro vivace, is a lively and energetic piece that showcases the virtuosity of the soloist. The movement is characterized by its rhythmic drive and playful melodies, with the piano and orchestra engaging in a lively dialogue throughout. The movement builds to a thrilling conclusion, with the piano and orchestra racing to the finish line. Overall, Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3 is a masterful work that showcases the composer's unique blend of folk-inspired melodies, modernist harmonies, and virtuosic piano writing. The concerto is notable for its use of unconventional forms and structures, as well as its innovative use of orchestration. Despite its challenging technical demands, the work has become a staple of the piano concerto repertoire and remains a beloved masterpiece of 20th-century music.

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