Béla Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances

Any mention of Transylvania tends to conjure up images of the nocturnal un-dead, but that region “beyond the forest” in Romania has a rich history with cultural roots that run far deeper than Bram’s Stoker’s Count Dracula.

This suite of six short dances was composed by Béla Bartók for the piano in 1915 and is based on folk tunes from culturally diverse Transylvania. In 1917 he orchestrated it for a string ensemble, and today we are pleased to present Dr. Daniel Sommerville conducting the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra Chamber Strings in this tuneful and dramatic set of dances. Kelsey Klopfenstein is featured on the violin in this episode of our “While We Wait Series”.

This concert is brought to you by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts.