Dances of Transylvania (Sonatina, Sz. 55)

Bela Bartók (1881-1945) originally wrote his SONATINA, Sz. 55 for piano in 1915, based on folk tunes that the Hungarian composer collected from the neighboring country, Romania. Consisting of three movements (I. Dudások [Bagpipes]. Allegretto, II. Medvetánc [Bear Dance]. Moderato, and III. Finale. Allegro vivace), the piece actually includes five different folk tunes, with two included in the first and third movements, and only one included in the middle movement. Bartók arranged the piece for full orchestra 16 years later, in 1931, making only minor changes, removing the movement titles, and titling the new work TRANSYLVANIAN DANCES, Sz. 96. This adaptation for string orchestra by Hungarian composer and musicologist Gabor Darvas (1911-1985) retains Bartók’s full orchestra title and the individual movement titles from the original piano piece. A Violin 3 part is included as an alternate for the viola, making the work more accessible to smaller string orchestras and the educational world. String count of 8-8-(3)5-5-5 included in the set.