Composer

:

Béla Bartók

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1930

Average_duration

:

18:48

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Béla Bartók's Cantata profana The Enchanted Stags, Sz. 94, was composed in 1930 and premiered in Budapest on October 2 of the same year. The piece is based on a Romanian folk tale about nine brothers who are transformed into stags by a curse and must live in the forest until they are freed by their youngest brother. The cantata is divided into five movements, each of which tells a different part of the story. The first movement, "The Nine Brothers," introduces the characters and their curse. The second movement, "The Forest," sets the scene in the enchanted forest where the brothers live as stags. The third movement, "The Youngest Brother," tells the story of the youngest brother who sets out to find his brothers and break the curse. The fourth movement, "The Hunt," depicts the chase to capture the stags. The final movement, "The Return," sees the brothers transformed back into humans and reunited with their family. Bartók's use of folk melodies and rhythms is a defining characteristic of the piece. He incorporates traditional Romanian and Hungarian folk music into the cantata, giving it a distinctly Eastern European flavor. The vocal writing is also notable, with each of the nine brothers having a distinct vocal line that reflects their individual character. The orchestration is colorful and varied, with Bartók using a wide range of instruments to create a rich and evocative sound. Overall, Cantata profana The Enchanted Stags is a masterful example of Bartók's use of folk music in his compositions. Its vivid storytelling and colorful orchestration make it a captivating work that continues to be performed and admired today.

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