Bela Bartok 1881-1945

Bartok is a Hungarian composer, and one of the great composers of the twentieth century.  Among his best known works are his pieces for chamber orchestra, six string quartets, concertos for piano and violin, and his Concerto for Orchestra.  He often based his compositions on folk songs.

A good guide to Bartok’s music is "BARTOK: A Selection of the Piano Music", A Handbook for Teachers and Students by NANCY SALAS.

Mikrokosmos comes from two Greek words: mikro (small) and kosmos (world).  The term here implies a miniature world of music.  Mikrokosmos consists of six volumes containing 153 short pieces, written for his son Peter.  They include works in all contemporary techniques and styles, and Mikrokosmos is essentially an anthology of studies in contemporary piano techniques.