Bartok composed his Sonata for violin solo (1944) after emigrating from Hungary to the USA on the outbreak of World War II. A few years before, he had openly expressed his aversion to Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, refusing to play his own music or have it performed in Germany.Bartok was consequently boycotted almost everywhere, particularly in pro-German countries. Political developments in Hungary and surrounding dictatorships became such an unbearable torment, that after long hesitation he said farewell to his fatherland(and to his mother). In North America, however, the composer and his wife could hardly settle. For many years Bart.k did not compose, and he felt that he would never be able to do so again. He darted through the overcrowded streets of New York like an anxious animal. He felt like a miserable and uprooted stranger, became ill, and weighed hardly 44 kilos in 1943. Bartok died of leukaemia in New York in 1945.
01. Sonata for Solo Violin in D Major, Op. 115: I. Moderato 5:13
02. Sonata for Solo Violin in D Major, Op. 115: II. Tema. Andante dolce – Var. I – Var. II. Scherzando – Var. III. Andante – Var. IV, V 4:12
03. Sonata for Solo Violin in D Major, Op. 115: III. Con brio – Allegro precipitato 4:32
04. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1: I. Sehr lebhafte Achtel 1:45
05. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1: II. Sehr langsame Viertel 4:27
06. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1: III. Sehr lebhafte Viertel 2:43
07. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1: IV. Intermezzo, Lied. Ruhig bewegte Achtel. Ganz leise und zart zu spielen 2:56
08. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 1: V. Prestissimo 1:57
09. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2, “…Es ist so schönes Wetter draußen…”: I. Leicht bewegte Viertel 2:34
10. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2, “…Es ist so schönes Wetter draußen…”: II. Ruhig bewegte Achtel 3:01
11. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2, “…Es ist so schönes Wetter draußen…”: III. Gemächliche Viertel 1:30
12. Violin Sonata, Op. 31 No. 2, “…Es ist so schönes Wetter draußen…”: IV. Fünf Variationen über das Lied “Komm, lieber Mai” v. Mozart. Leicht bewegt – Ein wenig ruhiger – Viel langsamer. Ruhig – Sehr lebhaft – Etwas langsam 5:12
13. Sonata for Violin Solo, Sz. 117, BB 124: I. Tempo di ciaccona 11:11
14. Sonata for Violin Solo, Sz. 117, BB 124: II. Fuga. Risoluto, non troppo vivo 5:02
15. Sonata for Violin Solo, Sz. 117, BB 124: III. Melodia. Adagio 7:23
16. Sonata for Violin Solo, Sz. 117, BB 124: IV. Presto 5:57