Bartók Found That Eastern European Folk Music Was Based On:
Contents
Bartók found that Eastern European folk music was based on: pentatonic, modal, and chromatic scales; a wide variety of melodic types; and irregular rhythm.
Bartók’s research
Bartók’s Discoveries About Eastern European Folk Music
His travels in Hungary and Romania
Bartók’s research into folk music began during his travels in Hungary and Romania in 1905 and continued throughout his life. He documented over 6,000 tunes, many of which he transcribed for piano or orchestra. He also wrote a number of books on folk music, including Hungarian Folk Songs (1913), Romanian Folk Dances (1915), and Serbian Folk Songs (1918).
His study of folk music
Bartók’s research into Eastern European folk music was based on his own observations and on the extensive fieldwork of others. He noted that the music of different regions often shared certain melodic, rhythmical, and formal characteristics. His conclusion was that the music of Eastern Europe was based on a common heritage that could be traced back to the music of the ancient Slavic peoples.
The influence of folk music on Bartók’s work
Bartók found that folk music from Eastern Europe was based on a pentatonic scale, which he used in his own compositions. He also discovered that the music was often passed down from generation to generation orally, and that it was constantly changing. Bartók was fascinated by the way that folk music changed over time, and he used this information to create his own unique style of music.
His use of folk melodies in his compositions
One of the primary ways in which Bartók was influenced by folk music was in his use of folk melodies in his compositions. He collected thousands of folk tunes from all over Europe, including Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, and often used these tunes as the basis for his own pieces. In some cases, he would take a short folk melody and develop it into a much longer and more complex composition; in other cases, he would use a folk tune almost unchanged. In either case, Bartók’s goal was to create what he called “authentic” folk music – that is, music that sounded like it could have been created by the people who actually lived and worked in the countryside.
His use of folk instruments in his music
Bartók found that Eastern European folk music was based on:
-Harmonics rather than melody
-The use of unique scales
-Rhythmic patterns that were very different from those found in Western classical music
All of these elements can be found in Bartók’s own compositions. He often used folk instruments, such as the cimbalom, in his music to create a unique sound. Bartók was also known for his use of unusual scales, such as the Hungarian minor scale. This scale can be heard in Bartók’s famous composition, “The Miraculous Mandarin.” Finally, Bartók’s use of rhythm was heavily influenced by folk music. He often used odd time signatures and irregular meter to create a sense of tension and excitement in his music.
The influence of Bartók’s work on folk music
Béla Bartók was a Hungarian composer and one of the founders of ethnomusicology. He is best known for his compositions based on Hungarian folk music. Bartók found that Eastern European folk music was based on pentatonic scales, which he used in his own compositions. He also discovered that the folk songs of different cultures were related to one another. Bartók’s work had a profound influence on folk music.
His influence on folk musicians
Bartók’s work was hugely influential on folk musicians, both in his native Hungary and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. He found that the music of the region was based on a simple modal system, with a few scale types being used over and over again. By analyzing this system, he was able to produce a more sophisticated and nuanced conception of folk music. This in turn led to a more sophisticated performance style, which was taken up by other folk musicians. Bartók’s work also had an impact on the development of ethnomusicology, as it showed that folk music could be studied in a scientific way.
His influence on folk music in general
Bartók’s work had a profound influence on folk music in general. He showed that the music of the folk was based on a rich and complex oral tradition, and that it could be used to create new art music. His work also inspired many other composers to explore the use of folk music in their own work.
