The definitive edition (1987) of the piano teaching classic. Includes an introduction by the composer's son Peter Bartók. (English/French/German/Hungarian text).
In 1945 Bela Bartok described Mikrokosmos as a cycle of 153 pieces for piano written for "didactic" purposes, seeing them as a series of pieces in many different styles, representing a small world, or as the "world of the little ones, the children". Stylistically Mikrokosmos reflects the influence of folk music on Bartok's life and the rhythms and harmonies employed create music that is as modern today as when the cycle was written.
The 153 pieces making up Mikrokosmos are divided into six volumes arranged according to technical and musical difficulty.
Major teaching points highlighted in Mikrokosmos 5: Chords - together and opposed Studies in double notes Whole tone scale Press Reviews
"An impressive tribute to the most comprehensive and challenging piano series of this century" Clavier, November 1990
"A new exciting, definitive edition .. will surely herald a revival of these short pieces as teaching material which can be applied to any piano method" Music Teacher Magazine
Two anthologies of Bernstein favourites are in the Masterworks series of full scores: Volume One contains music from West Side Story and On the Town, and Volume Two includes the Candide Overture, On the Waterfront and Prelude, Fugue & Riffs.
