Bartók Béla Viktor János ： For Children Revised Edition Vol.2 No.12 Andante rubato BB 53 Sz 42

This miniature combines a gently flowing pace with a sense of breath that is not bound strictly to the beat. The melody is treated like a simple song, yet attentive listening to the exchange of voices and harmonic changes reveals a quiet tension. The piece unfolds through shifting short sections, and one of its charms lies in presenting their contrasts naturally within the overall flow rather than exaggerating them. Rubato is most effective when used naturally at phrase peaks and cadences, rather than as continuous fluctuation of the tempo. Let the melody sing, keep the accompaniment restrained, and shape the resonance of rests and note values carefully to convey the delicate expression beneath its simplicity.