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.

Search
New search
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