Matteo Mancusso

A pioneer of modern ethnomusicology, Béla Bartók unflaggingly studied the folk traditions of Central Europe. His intent was twofold: to study and promote these musics he loved so much, but also to nourish his own language as a composer. This appropriation came about on the most superficial plane, via arrangement (Three Popular Songs from Csik, Romanian
Folk Dances, Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs) or imitation of peasant tunes (Two Romanian Folk Dances).

Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most prolific composers in the history of music – also literally, with his twenty children, but mainly in terms of his exceptional output. In spite of this, those of his works which appeared in print during his lifetime are less numerous than the proverbial tip of the iceberg. This does not imply that his music did not circulate: indeed, at his time, the favourite means of dissemination of musical works was through manuscript copies. Printing was reserved for works which were considered as particularly meaningful, and which represented the composer at his or her best; for works which had, therefore, also a “promotional” dimension, and which could foster the composer’s career by obtaining him or her fame, reputation, and possibly also a prestigious post.