Bartók’s music is a highly individual blend of elements distilled from the music of the composers whom he most admired. They included Liszt, Richard Strauss, Debussy and Stravinsky. A major influence throughout his creative life was the folk-music of his native Hungary and neighbouring Romania. This provided the material for many of his compositions, especially works written for the piano. For instance, his Romanian Folk Dances and Romanian Christmas Carols, both included on this recording, derive directly from his experiences of recording folk-music in the field with an Edison phonograph. Bartók’s melodic fertility and rhythmic vitality, which partly derive from this experience, have ensured universal popularity for his music. This new recording includes some of his most popular and accessible works for the piano.