Bartók Béla Viktor János ： Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs No.8 Allegretto BB 79 Sz 71

The eighth piece in Bartók’s Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, this is a short work with the light, lively character of an Allegretto. Centered on a simple folk-derived melody, it makes an impression through its concise writing and animated rhythms. Listen for the character of the theme presented at the opening, as well as the repetitions and changes that follow. In performance, avoid rushing the tempo and give careful attention to the elasticity of the beat and speech-like phrasing. Accents should not be overemphasized mechanically; the performer should preserve the folk-like simplicity and humor while shaping contrasting shades of tone.