Composition database

This is the Composition Database of BMC, which includes information about works by composers that are either Hungarian or Hungarian by origin or live in Hungary.

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Title of the work

The Wooden Prince, Op. 13, BB 74

Composer
Bartók Béla
Original / Hungarian title
A fából faragott királyfi, Op. 13, BB 74
Foreign language / English title
The Wooden Prince, Op. 13, BB 74
Subtitle
Dance-play in one act
Dedication
"Herrn Kapellmeister Egisto Tango in tiefer Dankbarkeit gewidmet"
Year of composition
1917
Type
Ballet / Choreographic work
Instrumentation
4 fl. (III, IV anche picc.), 4 ob. (III, IV anche c.ing.), 2 sax. (sax.a., sax., t. anche sax.bar.), 4 cl. (III anche cl.picc., IV anche cl.b.), 4 fg. (III, IV anche cfg.) - 4 cor., 4 tr., 2 crnt., 3 trb., tuba - timp., perc. (camp., xil., trg., cas., ptti., tmb.picc., gr.c., tam-tam) - cel., 2 arpa - strings: vl. 1, vl. 2, vla., vlc., cb.
Duration
42 min
Movements, parts
I. Függöny / Curtain
II. 1. A királykisasszony tánca az erdőben / Dance of the princess in the forest
III. A királyfi elindul / The prince starts on his way
IV. 2. Az erdő megmozdul - Küzdelemtánc / Dance of the trees - Struggle-dance
V. A királyfi fáradtságából fölocsúdva nekiszánja magát a továbbindulásnak / Restored from his lassitude the prince walks; 3. A hullámok tánca - A királyfinak ötlete támad / Dance of the waves - An idea enters his mind
VI. Várakozás / Anxious suspence
VII. 4. A királykisasszony tánca a bábbal / Dance of the princess with the wooden puppet
VIII. A királyfi végleg kétségbeesik / The prince behind in greatest despair, A tündér kilép az erdőből / The fairy steps out of the forest
IX. A tündér aranyhajat vesz elő / The fairy takes curly golden hair
X. 5. tánc. A királykisasszony táncra nógatja a fabábot / The princess in her endeavour to make him dance
XI. 6. A királykisasszony magát kellető tánccal hívogatja magához a királyfit / 6. Dance. The princess tries to persuade the prince to her side to dance with her
XII. 7. A királykisasszony ijedten a királyfi után akar menni / Quite alarmed the princess hurries forward him
XIII. A királyfi nem tágít, és magához öleli a királykisasszonyt. Hosszú csók / Yet the prince persists, and finally embraces her. Long kiss
Text
BALÁZS, Béla
Language
Hungarian / German / English
Premiere information
12 May 1917, Hungarian Royal Opera House, Budapest; Symphony Orchestra of the Hungarian Royal Opera House, Egisto Tango (cond.), Béla Balázs (dir.)
Publisher / Source
Universal Edition © 1924, UE6638
Available here!
Recordings
Philips CD 454429-2 - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer (cond.)
Hungaroton HCD-31048, 1994 - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, András Kórodi (cond.)
Remarks, other info
Composed: 1914 - 1917, revised: 1932

Based on the play by Béla Balázs

Transcription for piano: Universal Edition © 1921, 6635
Suite from the music of the ballet: Universal Edition
 

Recordings

Title Publisher
Béla Bartók: The Wooden Prince; Dance Suite Philips
Bartók, Béla: The Wooden Prince; Dance Suite Hungaroton
Magánkiadás
Vox Box
SWR Classic
Naxos
SWR Classic
Decca