Bartok, Mikrokosmos Book 6 (excerpts) played by Julian Hellaby (paulprocopolis)

These three short pieces, 'Ostinato', 'From the Diary of a Fly' and Bulgarian Dance No.6 come from the sixth and last volume of Bartók's pedagogical series 'Mikrokosmos', composed between 1926 and 1937. The 'Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm' were dedicated to the English pianist Harriet Cohen.

This recording was made in the late 1990s and I have tried - not entirely successfully I fear - to remove the annoying background hiss that came, I think, from a faulty microphone. Ah well, I suppose it's no worse than hissing and crackling on 78s and early LPs, so there's some comfort in that! Otherwise the recording was done in one take and is unedited.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bartok
• Mikrokosmos
• Julian Hellaby
• paulprocopolis

[cambria3]

I can clean this up for you if you can send me the file? Wav or MP3? Julian is one of my lecturers at uni

[paulprocopolis]

@cambria3 The file is WAV (converted from MP3 which was in turn converted from cassette tape, transferred from DAT!) but when the fault is in the recording process there is always the danger of compromising the piano sound in the 'cleaning-up' process. However, you're welcome to try. Who are you by the way?

[cambria3]

@paulprocopolis Im a student at Coventry Uni where Julian teaches.

Ah okay if the problem was in the original recording I'm not going to be able to do much with it lol. Thanks for letting me know anyway. Sorry for the delay in responding.

Cheers

[martinjp1958]

This music is sublime. Great playing too.

[TheWanderingNight]

Parts from No. 153 sound a bit weak - you could sound a bit more powerful and energetic. I suppose pedalling can help with this (esp. the section from 4:42), but it's all good really, especially the steady speed.

[daniel15671]

Well done! I find Bartok's mature piano style quite exacting. He wrote in such a 'stripped down' manner that any little error is immediately evident. There's nowhere to hide with Bartok. But it's such wonderful music, I can't stay away.

[Barbapippo]

Bravo, a very nice rendition, :)

[shela2]

I am happy with this recording . We are lucky to be able to hear such playing from a very gifted musician,s personal wealth of recordings I loved the Bulgarian Dance. specially ...Thankyou,