Bartók was born in Nagyszentmiklós, Hungary (now Sânnicolau Mare, Romania). He began studying piano at an early age and showed great talent. He later studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Budapest, where he met Zoltán Kodály, who would become his lifelong friend and collaborator.
In the early 1900s, Bartók began to travel throughout Hungary and other parts of Eastern Europe, collecting folk songs. He was fascinated by the diversity of folk music and its potential for use in classical music. Bartók's folk music-inspired compositions include the Romanian Dances (1915), the Hungarian Sketches (1913-1918), and the Concerto for Orchestra (1943).
In addition to his folk-inspired music, Bartók also wrote several abstract works, such as the String Quartets Nos. 1-6 and the Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion. These works are characterized by their complex rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and use of unusual instrumental combinations.
Bartók was also a gifted pianist and performed his own works throughout Europe and the United States. He also taught piano and composition at the Budapest Academy of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Bartók died in New York City in 1945 at the age of 64. He left behind a legacy of influential music that continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.