Bartok Mikrokosmos Question

[scriabinophile]

I recently posted this on another piano-related site, but no-one was able to help me.  Maybe someone here on the Piano Street forum has some information...

A student of mine is working on Bartok Mikrokosmos #113 ("Bulgarian Rhythm"), using the Boosey & Hawkes score. The piece, in 7/8, is written in two simple voices (ie: one note at a time in the RH, and one in the LH). The Russian edition available on IMSLP is notated exactly the same way as the B&H edition.

However, I have noticed that in some performances (for instance, the YouTube recordings of both Claude Helfer and Jeno Jando), pianists play RH octaves in the repeat and do something different with the LH.  What exactly they are doing with the LH isn't as easy to hear.  Years ago I had a recording of Bartok himself playing #113, and I seem to recall that he, too, did something different in the repeat (in addition to the dynamic differences which are notated). I've searched for the Bartok recording on YouTube but unfortunately I can't find it there.

If anyone is acquainted with this piece, and is familiar with what these performers are doing in the repeat, especially with the LH, could you please fill me in? 

Also, if such an alternate version is available in print, could you tell me who publishes it?

[perfect_pitch]

Any chance you have a video link to the performance by Jando??? I can't find a specific one about No. 113.

I can find the music, but I'm curious to help you.

[scriabinophile]

Try the following at 19:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyMajrWSkMA

[perfect_pitch]

2nd time played through, the LH notes are played with an octave below, EXCEPT for the repeated D's, and the RH is played as octaves.

Why, I don't know - I don't know much about Bartok unfortunately, and there seems to be no directions to indicate this change in the repeat.

[jimfaston]

If you can read or have Russian translated you will find some info on page 2 of this edition from Scorser:

https://en.scorser.com/Out/4769514.html

The composer arranged seven of these pieces for 2 pianos, 4 hands--the arrangement of no.113 is filled out in a similar way.  Have a look at the score on IMSLP if you are interested:

https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/22087

[scriabinophile]

2nd time played through, the LH notes are played with an octave below, EXCEPT for the repeated D's, and the RH is played as octaves.

That's what I suspected. Thanks for the confirmation. Adding those notes makes the piece a fair bit more difficult. I'll mention the variation to my student, and we'll give it a try, but perhaps we'll stick with what's notated in the score.

...there seems to be no directions to indicate this change in the repeat.

Exactly. Perhaps Jando and Helfer are merely emulating what they heard Bartok do in his recording.

The composer arranged seven of these pieces for 2 pianos, 4 hands--the arrangement of no.113 is filled out in a similar way.  Have a look at the score on IMSLP if you are interested

So, I wonder if the Jando, Helfer and Bartok versions aren't a combination of the 2-hand and 4-hand versions?

I'll see if I can make some sense of the Russian commentary.  Thank you!

[chrisbutch]

I wonder which B & H edition you have? The 1987 'New Definitive Edition' by Peter Bartok actually has a note about this (in English!) which reads as follows:

'113 The repetition may also be played in this way [1 bar example given, RH doubled, LH ostinato doubled except repeated d]
etc with octaves throughout. In this case the seconda volta should be played louder. In order to develop a sense of rhythm it is advisable to play the piece in the following manner: Two students (or more advanced pianists) who are both perfectly familiar with the piece in its original form, should play it as a duet on one piano. The second player plays the three introductory and six closing bars as written, and, in the central part, doubles the accompaniment an octave lower (using both hands), while the first player doubles the melody in the upper octaves. Once this goes well, the roles should be reversed.'

Which is all very well, but doesn't actually say that Bartok pére sanctioned this!....though the editor being who he was, we must presumably accept that he did!

[scriabinophile]

Thank you. Mystery solved.

I wonder which B & H edition you have?

My student has borrowed it, so I can't check the imprint date right now. But the score is a lot older than 1987. I used it way back when I was a child, so it had to have been published in the 1960s, or even earlier.

Now you've got me wondering if I shouldn't buy new editions of all my Bartok scores...?? 

If my student decides to purchase Mikrokosmos, I'll have her look for the 'New Definitive Edition' that you mentioned.

Also, I've been trying the alternate version with octaves, and keeping the LH going in 7/8 is a bit of a coordination challenge. Peter Bartok's practice suggestion seems like a very good one, so I'll give that a try with my student.

Thanks again!