Bartók Béla Viktor János ： For Children Revised Edition Vol.1 No.36 Drunkard’s Song BB 53 Sz 42

This miniature presents a simple, song-like melody in a concise texture. The exchanges and repetitions of its short phrases suggest a gently unsteady humor and a folk-like manner of speech. The melody should be brought clearly to the fore, while the accompaniment remains light and never too heavy. Rather than keeping the beat completely mechanical, a slight rhythmic flexibility that follows the breathing of each phrase can bring out the character suggested by the title. Attention to light articulation and the space within the rests, as well as to dynamics, helps convey the piece’s lively and approachable personality.