Enriched microcosm

Who the Microcosm Béla Bartók in the familiar Boosey & Hawkes format will be surprised to hold the new (and first) Urtext edition from Wiener Urtext Edition in their hands. The six slim volumes I to VI have become three extensive volumes. This division, with two volumes per volume, apparently corresponds to Bartók's original intention, but he was unable to push it through against the publishers Boosey & Hawkes.

However, there are other reasons why the three volumes are so large: Each volume is preceded by a foreword by the editors Michael Kube and Jochen Reutter, which deals in great detail with the history of the origins, the sources and other backgrounds of the Microcosm deals with. This is followed by the composer's foreword.

The musical text itself is spacious and very clearly laid out, and is also livened up with insights into Bartók's own handwriting. His notes on the individual pieces follow, as do comprehensive and very readable notes on interpretation from the pen of Peter Roggenkamp. Extensive critical notes are of course included, as well as some previously unpublished pieces and the special versions for Bartók's son Péter.

So if you want to gain a deeper insight into the Microcosm will be well served here, and at a moderate price to boot. To what extent this new edition will promote the dissemination of the work for practical teaching is another question. There are other pieces by Bartók (such as the collection For children) have always fallen on more willing ears. The Microcosm is not primarily a piano school, but above all a compendium of Bartók's compositional art.

Béla Bartók, Mikrokosmos in three volumes, Urtext edited by Michael Kube and Jochen Reutter, fingerings by the composer; Vol. 1 (Vol 1 & 2), UT 50411, € 24.50; Vol. 2 (Vol 3 & 4), UT 50412, € 27.50; Vol. 3 (Vol 5 & 6), UT 50413, € 27.50; Wiener Urtext Edition, Schott/Universal Edition 2016