Bartók Analysis: A Critical Examination and Application

Abstract

<p>Several types of analysis have been applied to the music of Béla Bartók. This thesis provides a summary of the work of the major Bartók authors, along with a critical examination of their methods. The methods described are then applied to the second movement of Bartók's <em>Divertimento</em>, where their appropriateness is tested on a work for which little analysis has been published. After all of the procedures are applied to the movement in isolation, a synthesis of the various methods is postulated, and a comprehensive analysis is presented, combining the most effective facets of the techniques of the featured authors. A final section considers the usefulness of each of the methods for this work, as well as for general analysis of the work of Bartók.</p>