An Analysis Of The Mikrokosmos Of Béla Bartók

Abstract

Much contemporary music in melodically and harmonically chaotic to the unprepared listening ear and represents a type of expression which fails to possess the remotest apparent connection with previous experience. Nothing but an education of the musical ear can accomplish a state of tolerant receptivity to these contemporary indiums.

Mankind habitually seeks authoritative standards of value as guides to his attitudes and beliefs. Such standards, perhaps have guided the development of arts cultures in past eras but, in the twentieth century, evasion of the comfortable stability of tradition seems to be the customary practice of artists. It may be that there are now viewing the sum total of human existence more completely and, therefore, with greater insight and energy than they have done in the past, and it behooves everyone similarly to expand his perspective of artistic values in order to understand the contemporary era and the emotional life of its creative artists.