Description
Béla Bartók's six string quartets, composed between 1908 and 1940, represent significant achievements in 20th-century chamber music. His First String Quartet is intimately connected to his tumultuous affection for the violinist Stefi Geyer, to whom he sent the initial measures of the first movement in early 1908, referring to it as “My song of death.” Upon completing all three movements a year later, he reportedly felt that he had, as noted by his friend and colleague Zoltán Kodály, written himself “back into life.” In this First Quartet, Bartók skillfully merges late-Romantic musical elements with influences from folk music, which had captivated him since 1905.
This definitive edition, overseen by Bartók expert László Somfai, marks the first Urtext edition of this composition. It incorporates both manuscript and printed sources, along with letters and notes from the composer that document various modifications, including changes to tempo markings. The Henle edition thus presents a musical text that adheres to the highest scholarly standards, accompanied by intriguing insights into the work's compositional background and performance practices. Thoughtful page turns and cue notes enhance the usability of this edition, making it an essential resource for musicians.
