This critical restoration of Béla Bartók's Viola Concerto made by the Hungarian violist Csaba Erdélyi represents a major contribution to Bartók scholarship, and has revived international interest in an important work by one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century. This edition is intended to serve as a basis for practical performance, and a critical apparatus is supplied so that comparison may be made with the work as it appeared in the composer's draft manuscript. The viola part is presented in two versions in the same folio; the first including Erdélyi's fingerings and bowings, and the second including only suggestions for dynamics and tempi, in order to provide a clean copy for the player's personal interpretation.
Béla Bartók (1881-1945) is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century. Though his early works displayed the influence of nationalism and late Romantic figures such as Brahms and Strauss, the creative path that defined Bartók’s career was his incorporation of elements of folk music. As his interest in folk music grew, its distinctive modes and irregular rhythms became a hallmark of Bartók’s compositions, be they small piano pieces or masterfully orchestrated symphonies. Bartók’s extensive collection and analytical study of folk music made him a pioneer in the field of study that would later come to be known as ethnomusicology.
