Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz. 110
by Béla Bartók
PianoPercussionModernSonata~28 minprofessional
Composed in 1937 and premiered in Basel with Bartók and his wife Ditta Pásztory at the two pianos, this three-movement sonata revolutionized chamber music by giving percussion equal standing with the pianos. The work demands two grand pianos, xylophone, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and timpani. Its folk-inflected rhythmic energy, intricate polyrhythm, and arch form (fast–slow–fast) make it one of the most technically demanding chamber works of the 20th century.
Editions
Boosey & Hawkes
Peter Bartók, 1942
Authoritative edition edited by the composer's son. The standard performing text worldwide.
★★★★★
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Editio Musica Budapest
László Somfai, 2003
Critical Urtext based on autograph sources with extensive commentary on Bartók's rhythmic notation.
★★★★★
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