It is obvious that if there remains any hope for the survival of folk music [...] an artificial erection of Chinese walls to separate peoples from each other bodes no good for its development.

A complete separation from foreign influences means stagnation: well assimilated foreign impulses offer possibilities of enrichment. (Béla Bartók)

Béla Bartók was born today 135 years ago.

The quote above is taken from a text by the composer on “race purity in music” – read more on our MusikSalon.