Abstract

In his mature years Béla Bartók continuously argued that the influence of peasant music on art music should be realized by grasping its "spirit" -which penetrates the composer's creativity. We usually take this argument simply as a part of this program for modernist music, but the significance of this "spirit" remains hardly convincing. It is unclear why modern musicians should undertake such a demanding task as to make the "spirit" of peasant music their own. We can clarify the importance of this idea solely by considering the historical background of Hungary. The discourse of the "spirit" of peasant music can be related to the nationalistic movement from the first decade of the twentieth century; especially to the innovatively minded movement led by young intellectuals such as Endre Ady. Under the influence of social radicalism, they began to seek the new cultural identity of Hungary. Precisely according to this new trend Bartók also formulated his strategy, approaching long-forgotten cultures of the peasant class and of other peoples. Because of this political-cultural context it became his ultimate goal to grasp the "spirit" of peasant music, which could context it became his ultimate goal to grasp the "spirit" of peasant music, which could justify his artistic endeavor both in the nationalistic context and in the modernist one