The full album from the TSO is out now on Rubicon Classics, featuring Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta and Divertimento. The two works on this album were commissioned by conductor Paul Sacher in the 1930s for the orchestra he founded in 1926, the Basel Chamber Orchestra. This orchestra was famous for its adventurous programming, often combining baroque repertoire with contemporary works. Bartók’s Divertimento nods to the baroque concerto grosso in its use of individual groups of players, and the title ‘divertimento’ recalls Mozart’s many examples of this form.

By contrast, the earlier of the two commissions avoids any musical category – Bartók simply called the work Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste ‘Strings’ in this works title includes harp and piano. ‘percussion’ adds not only timpani, but snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam and xylophone, and of course the sparkling sound provided by the celeste. It is a beautiful score, culminating in a brilliant finale with dance rhythms and folk dance syncopations.