Bartók Béla Viktor János ： 9 Little Piano Pieces No.5 Minuet BB 90 Sz 82

Within its compact scale, this miniature condenses the poised character of a minuet with Bartók’s distinctive sense of tension. Built on a steady pulse, it gains expression through the exchange of short phrases and changes of register. It is best appreciated by following the overall flow while listening carefully to the contrasts between its sections. In performance, it is important to retain the weight of the beat without becoming mechanical. Bringing the melody clearly to the fore, keeping the accompaniment and inner voices restrained, and allowing natural breaths at rests and phrase endings will reveal the appeal of its concise writing.