Bartók Béla Viktor János ： 4 Dirges II Andante BB 58 Sz 45 Op.9a

The second piece in the set 4 Dirges, this Andante is a short work marked by deep introspection and restrained sorrow. Within its unhurried progress, the listener can attend to the breathing of the melodic lines, the changing harmonies, and the shifts in sonority across the registers. It is important to preserve the overall flow while carefully shaping the differences in expression from one passage to the next. In performance, avoid projecting the emotion too forcefully; carefully control the beginnings and endings of notes, and use the pedal with enough restraint to keep the sonority clear. This brings out the quiet tension and lingering resonance.