Allegro Barbaro (Marimba - 2 Players)

Description

The character and arrangement of the piece, written in 1911 for piano solo, seem predestined for this arrangement: Bartók's "barbaric" Allegro, a work of high technical standard and complex harmony, was arranged by Martin Opršál for four hands - however, these do not move over a piano keyboard, but use mallets with which they scurry over five octaves of a marimba. Bartók's idea, which in this piece already gave the piano a percussion-like character through a driving pulse in fast tempo and accentuated articulations, is virtually further developed by this arrangement. Hammering sequences of eighths and jumping motifs can not only be convincingly presented musically on the mallet, but also effectively staged visually.