Bartók Béla Viktor János ： Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs No.3 Lento Rubato BB 83 Sz 74 Op.20

The third piece in a collection based on Hungarian peasant songs, it is shaped by the indications Lento and rubato, calling for a slow tempo and flexible movement of time. Centered on a gently singing melody, the spaces between notes and changes in harmony create a quiet sense of tension, while the musical flow shifts delicately within the short piece. In performance, the beat should not be held too rigidly; instead, the rhythm should expand and contract naturally with the melody’s breathing. Without playing it too ornamentally, performers should preserve its folk-like simplicity and carefully reveal the resonance of each note and the direction of every phrase.