The composer and ethnomusicologist Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was originally trained to be a pianist. Right up to his last concert at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1943, he regularly performed his own works on the piano, both as a soloist and playing chamber music. To a certain extent, he considered composing a personal affair, one which always depended on inspiration. His piano works are considered to be central to Bartók's oeuvre. They give most direct access to the composer's thoughts and exemplify his musical development. The piano was undoubtedly Bartók's instrument, the means by which he might try out and express his musical ideas most directly. It is in the piano works that new trends and styles always appeared first and could then be applied to other genres and instruments. Bartók's piano oeuvre is extraordinarily diverse.