A Universal Body of Folk Music—A Technical Argument, Robeson explains the impoRtance of the pentatonic scale, which is found in native tRaditions aRound the woRld, to afRican ameRican music, including jazz and Rock. despite its seeming univeRsality, few classical composeRs (mussoRgsky, dvoRak, kodaly, and baRtok) have used it, and it RaRely is a paRt of westeRn classical music tRaining

doi:10.4324/9781315633374-9

Chapter

A Universal Body of Folk Music—A Technical Argument, Robeson explains the impoRtance of the pentatonic scale, which is found in native tRaditions aRound the woRld, to afRican ameRican music, including jazz and Rock. despite its seeming univeRsality, few classical composeRs (mussoRgsky, dvoRak, kodaly, and baRtok) have used it, and it RaRely is a paRt of westeRn classical music tRaining

Chapter

ABSTRACT

Bartok himself gives a real clue in his Microcosmos (Vol. 2), written for children, entitled, “Two Major Pentachords,” precisely C and F sharp. So the scale could be looked at as two contrasting pentatonics, providing a kind of natural folk-song bitonality. This gives Bartok’s work a very advanced and modern harmonic feeling.