Bela Bartok - The Miraculous Mandarin Suite
​for Chamber Orchestra

Bartok composed his score to the ballet The Miraculous Mandarin from 1918-1924, and it was premiered in 1926. Both the ballet and the music caused a scandal, partly owing to the brutality of the story. Bartok created an orchestral suite from the ballet, which is essentially the first section of the score. It is music of violence, seduction and savagery, as well as a virtuoso display piece for the orchestra. Bartok's soloistic scoring and brittle textures lend themselves perfectly to a chamber version, here arranged for 15 players. More strings can be used if preferred.

Instrumentation: flute (piccolo), oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion (2 players): (timpani, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, snare drum, triangle), piano, violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, double bass (15 players)

Available from Aria Editions here

​Listen to a performance of the arrangement: 

The Miraculous Mandarin Suite (21'59)