Search - Bela Bartok, Kornél Zempléni, Lorant Szucs :: Bartók: Mikrokosmos, Sz.107/44 Duos for 2 Violins, Sz.98

Complete recordings of Mikrokosmos are relatively common these days, but aside from guiding students I wonder what purpose they serve. This is a series of piano study pieces starting at the most basic level, and the music with genuine listening interest really begins only with Book 3 (of 6). Similarly the duets are mostly teaching pieces, and though they make for good listening in small groups, the entire series becomes tiresome. Bartók wrote magnificent music, and the later books of Mikrokosmos are filled with superb little pieces. But though the performances in this set are all excellent, not much of the music is basic Bartók. --Leslie Gerber