Béla Bartók: Sonata for Guitar, transcription by Christophe Dejour

from the YoTube notes:

Béla Bartók: Sonata for guitar. Originally written for solo violin. Arrangement for guitar: Christophe Dejour.

1. Tempo di ciaccona
2. Fuga. Risoluto, non troppo vivo 9,55´
3. Melodia. Adagio 14,45´
4 Presto. 21,54´

The Sonata for Solo violin Sz.117,BB 124, by Béla Bartók is regarded as one of the most important solo works of the 20th century. It was premiered by Yehudi Menuhin, to whom it was dedicated, in New York on 26 November 1944.

In 2015, after many thoughts, – sketches and considerations, I finished the guitar arrangement. I can only hope that people will recognize my attempt of the arrangement were done with respect for the composer and the unique Music.

In the last movement (presto) the manuscript contains sections written in quarter tone steps. Béla Bartók explained these in his letter of April 21 1944:

“The quarter-tones in the 4th movement have only colour-giving character, i.e. they are not ”structural” features, and – therefore – may be eliminated, as I tried to do so in the alternatives on the last pages, which you may use if you don´t feel inclined to worry about quarter-tone playing. However the best would be, if I could hear played both versions, and then decide if it is worth while use the quarter-tones”

The quarter-tones in the manuscript are followed by the ”alternatives” also known as the Menuhin version.

In my guitar arrangement I had to choose the half-note version. (Menuhin version) not that I like this version more, (actually on the contrary, I would had loved to play the quarter-note version) but I simply could not find a solution how to play the fast quarter-notes. The way to produce quarter-notes on the guitar are by bending or pulling the strings and I was not able to bend/pull the strings in the required Presto tempo.

also:
Christophe Dejour, guitar transcription of JS Bach Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue (BWV 903)
Alban Berg: Opus One, transcription by Christophe Dejour

 

 

• Bela Bartok
• Christophe Dejour