BÃ©la BartÃ³k wrote the 44 duos for two violins in 1931. The original commission, by the German violinist and pedagogue Erich Doflein, was for an arrangement of BartÃ³k's piano collection 'For Children'. BartÃ³k decided instead to offer Doflein a brand new work. All the pieces included on this monumental collection are based in folk tunes from several eastern countries. The form of each duo is usually very simple, assuming the spontaneity and lack of structural complexity of the original folk songs. But the folkloric character of these duos is not due exclusively to the use of modal folk songs. Irregular rhythm patterns, percussive effects, syncopation, drones in double stops and many other techniques, contribute to an evocative and extroverted character. Enrico Onofri and Lina Tur Bonet - both especially known as Baroque violinists - perform the Duos playing on historical instruments, meaning on violins set with early 20th century strings. The combination of gut and steel strings produces a special sound and mix of the violins, influencing bow strokes and use of vibrato.

Tracklist:

44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 1, Teasing Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 2, Maypole Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 3, Menuetto
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 4, Midsummer Night Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 5, Slovakian Song (1)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 6, Hungarian Song (1)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 7, Walachian Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 8, Slovakian Song (2)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 9, Play Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 10, Ruthenian Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 11, Cradle Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 12, Hay Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 13, Wedding Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 1: No. 14, Pillow Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 15, Soldier's Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 16, Burlesque
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 17, Hungarian March (1)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 18, Hungarian March (2)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 19, A Fairy Tale
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 20, A Rhythm Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 21, New Year's Song (1)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 22, Mosquito Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 23, Bride's Farewell
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 24, Comic Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 2: No. 25, Hungarian Song (2)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 26, Teasing Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 27, Limping Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 28, Sorrow
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 29, New Year's Song (2)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 30, New Year's Song (3)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 31, New Year's Song (4)
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 32, Dance From Máramaros
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 33, Harvest Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 34, Counting Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 35, Ruthenian Kolomejka
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 3: No. 36, Bagpipes & Variant
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 37, Prelude & Canon
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 38, Romanian Whirling Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 39, Serbian Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 40, Romanian Dance
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 41, Scherzo
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 42, Arabian Song
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 43, Pizzicato
44 Duos For 2 Violins, Sz. 98, Heft 4: No. 44, Transylvanian Dance
Sonata In F Major, Rv 70: I. Allegro
Sonata In F Major, Rv 70: II. Larghetto
Sonata In F Major, Rv 70: III. Allegro Molto

UPC: 7619990103993
Label: Pan Classics
Release Date: 4.5.19
Format: CD

Bartok / Onofri / Bonet - Duos for Violin (CD)