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Bela Bartok's Sixth String Quartet


The first movement opens with the Mesto theme in the solo viola (0,2), interspersed with (0,1) is seen here, some examples of (0,2) being in the last eighth note of the first measure through the first beat of the second measure, and also the second beat of the second measure. .
             In the pesante, (0,7) is highlighted in the first couple of measures. Measure 15 is a unison Ab to Eb, a perfect fifth. That initial exhibition of fifths tells the listener there will be more pure harmonies to come5. In measure 33, Bartok creates vividness with duples on beat 1. The three notes in this measure fall into the (0,2) category with the G# and F#, but also in the (0,7) category with G# to C#. Often Bartok combines these intervals to form new, compete cells-something more complex than mere dyads. More examples of this (0,5,7) cell occur in measure 55 in the first violin and 61 in the first violin/viola. (0,5,7) is also present in the first violin in measure 125-126. .
             In these two measures, the first four notes are major seconds descending then ascending in step formation. (0,2) is the result of these four notes. Looking at the whole picture and counting G#-F#-G# as passing tones, the (0,7) dyad will shine through as A# to D#. Whether or not there are notes in between, it can be inferred that the ear will hear the perfect fifth tonality, just as with a perfect fifth drone. Measure 81 begins a new mood and is considerably at a faster tempo. The majority of intervals in this section are of (0,2) distinction. Because there are half steps between most measures in this section, each measure must be analyzed as one entity, not from measure to measure. For example, the first violin in measure 81 starts on a C and descends by whole steps to a Gb, but then starts in measure 82 on an F (a half step from Gb) and ascends by whole steps. The same principle applies to the second violin in those two measures.


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