Bartók Béla Viktor János ： Mikrokosmos Vol.3 No.96 Awkwardness BB 105 Sz 107

Mikrokosmos Vol. 3 No. 96, “Awkwardness,” is a pedagogical work that uses concise material to portray the clumsy, unsettled movements suggested by its title. Its appeal lies in the small tensions created by the passing of notes and rhythmic displacements, as well as the humor that emerges from them. The piece unfolds in a series of short units, so recognizing the distinct character of each section helps clarify the overall flow. In performance, it is important to maintain the beat without making it mechanically even, bringing out the accents and rests with care. Practice the hands separately at first, and in places where the hand movements tend to collide, release excess tension and shape the awkwardness naturally rather than exaggerating it.