BARTOK

A Progressive/Classical Rock band from Debrecen, Hungary, formed by keyboardist Kalman Matolcsy, bassist Andras Szalay, guitarist Alex Szalay and drummer Csaba Beke in 1974.Among the first attempts the group tried to adapt Classical pieces belonging to Hungarian composer Bela Bartok after recruiting vocalist Eniko Acs.These however would never see the light due to the denial of the Bartok family and they are only available as a free digital download from the band's website.

Chronologically based around 76'-77', this is one of the closest things you can hear to E.L.P. or COLLEGIUM MUSICUM, featuring three live recordings and three studio tracks, on one of them (''Ostinato'') the drums are performed by Miklos Kiss.Half an hour of bombastic EMERSON-ian organ orgasms and some synthesizer beats here and there, especially on the long ''Dance suite'', which however is the weakest track of all, filled with long narrative parts and flat grooves.The shorter tunes are more interesting, rich-sounding and powerful with strong Classical melodies, dramatic bass lines and virtuosic synth solos among the never-ending organ textures.There are also minor guitar solos and riffs among the keyboard runs but these are too few to change the whole E.L.P.-like atmosphere.

While ''Bartok'' is definitely noy among the best Classical-Rock adaptions I've heard, these recordings show a band with potential, that did not make it into the prog scene at the time.Feel free to taste these recordings by yourself in the band's website.