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Another compilation created by the Museum Music company.  The company itself elucidated on why they picked the music when celebrating the photographer.  An interesting combination of displaying the Hungarian contribution to aural and visual arts, I must admit.  When I purchased this at the Telfair Museum of Art, I did not know a lot about the the photographer.  I have looked at some of his photography, and I do like what I have seen so far.  Kertesz creates wonderful serene environments.

The first song goes by the full title Pillow Dance, for piano (For Children, Vol 1/4).  Originally created by Bela Bartok and performed by Dan Rosengard, this 52 second track consists only of piano playing.  It makes for a nice introduction.  After the short and sweet introduction, the eight minute long Piano Quintet in C minor Op. I, III. Adagio by Ernö Dohnányi and performed by Istvan Kassai switches to a more melancholic feel.

At one point, the violins do give off this harsh dissonance.  Suite No. 2 for Small Orchestra Op. 4 by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra has this wonderful airy quality to it.  Not to mention very playful and joyful to listen to.  Further into the song, it builds to this triumphant crescendo.  Ferenc Liszt’s Consolations 3, Lento Placido performed by Peter Szarbo brings the melancholic mood back to this album.  Makes for a nice contemplative listen.

Zoltán Kodály’s Serenade for Two Violins and Viola Op. 12, I. Allegramente performed by Vilmos Tatrai, Istvan Varkonyi, Gyorgy Konrad picks the mood with this uptempo song.  While lovely, it does not particularly stand out to me.  Leó Weiner’s Concerto No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra in F sharp minor Op. 45, III. Largetto performed by Vilmos Szabadi while has some memorable moments, stills feels forgettable.  Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. I, I. Andante sostenuto performed by Denes Kovacs makes for an interesting study in how to create a pretty dissonance out of violins, but it does not really stand out.  Bartók’s contributions continues with Two Pictures, Op. 10, I. In Full Flower performed by Zoltan Kocsis and Dezso Ranki creates a piano centric song that sort of meanders.  Another long song, Károly Goldmark’s String Quartet in B float major Op. 8, II. Andante sostenuto performed by the Lajtha String Quartet has this nice meditative feel, but again, feels forgettable.

The album goes back to Bartók with the short but fast paced track Allegro Barbaro performed by Dezso Ranki.  After multiple forgettable tracks, this comes off as an adrenaline rush.   Zoltán Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 8, I. Allegro performed by Miklos Perenyi goes back to the long epic tracks of lush orchestra.  The bad part?  They go back to these meandering and forgettable works.  The last track comes from Bartók and his song, Winter Solstice, for piano.  Performed by Dan Rosengard, this short song shares similarity to the Pillow Song that started the album and it acts as a nice conclusion.

My final verdict?  Listen to this track while working or taking a bath.  Taking it apart, the songs do not stand out on their own, but altogether, they make for a nice, relaxing atmosphere.

ETA: Fixed a few sentences.