Expert: Pat G - 2/23/2010

Question
Hello Pat,

Our local ballet is dusting off a ballet they performed in 1984.  We have an old VCR tape that we recovered the dance and music from, but no one recalls the composer of the music.  We need an expert to help identify the piece.  The dance is called Bagatelles and one of the dancer's recall's that it might be Béla Bartók.  The capture from the dance can be found here: http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/9991447/file.html


Thank you!

Answer
Hello, Tom,

About the best I can do for you is to point you in a direction and let you take it from there.

As I am sure you are aware, the recording quality makes the instruments involved difficult to identify. I am not familiar with the pieces offhand. The style DOES sound like Bartók. It sounds like piano at times, and harp at others, and I also think I can hear flute in there. Another one sounds like there is some trumpet in it. Bartók did compose a set of pieces for harp and pan flute, and he also composed a set of bagatelles for piano, but they don't have another instrument in them. I did listen to samples of the Bagatelles for piano at amazon.com , but nothing reached out and grabbed me. Bartók also composed a rather extensive collection of piano pieces known as Mikrokosmos, but again, these are for solo piano. There are six volumes, and they become increasingly complex. There are other composers who may have composed in a similar style. Martinu comes to mind, although he is Czech, but it's the same era and area. Kodály is another, a fellow Hungarian. Kodály influenced Bartók quite a bit.

One musical idea that is particularly noteworthy for me, that can be used to identify the set of pieces, is a descending set of four notes in the scale, repeated in different keys or parts of the scale. I'm sure you know what I am talking about. I listened specifically for that, to no avail.

Here is a link to Bartók's Bagatelles. There are tracks you can listen to.

http://www.amazon.com/Bartok-Bagatelles-etc-Bela/dp/B000001ZLD/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF...

Unfortunately, none of them grabbed me, although the clarity of the piano makes it more difficult for me personally.

You can also try various composers, pieces, and instruments on Amazon, and this may be helpful. I tried some of that, and didn't come up with anything.

If you want to do a follow-up message, I can throw it into the question pool. Or, you can ask another expert. It turns out I don't listen to Bartók all that much, which doesn't help.

I'll give it another stab when I get a chance.

Good luck! If you find out what it is, let me know! :)