Bartók Béla Viktor János ： Romanian Christmas Songs Book 2 No.10 Allegro BB 67 Sz 57

True to its Allegro marking, this is a lively and energetic miniature. Its appeal lies in the simple melody drawn from a Romanian Christmas song and its crisp rhythmic character; within the repetitions and short units of the melody, it conveys the approachable quality and vitality of folk music. When listening, one should attend not only to the natural shaping of the melody, but also to the subtle forward momentum created by the accompaniment and inner voices. In performance, it is important not to rush the tempo, while maintaining a light touch and clear articulation and showing the direction of each phrase. Keeping the contrasts in dynamics restrained while preserving a bright, festive character brings out the charm of its concise structure.