Composer

:

Béla Bartók

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Part Song

Compose Date

:

1932

Average_duration

:

9:24

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Béla Bartók's 'Székely Folksongs, Sz. 99' is a collection of six songs for voice and piano, composed in 1917. The premiere of the work took place in Budapest in 1918, with the composer himself at the piano. The six movements of the work are based on traditional folk songs from the Székely region of Transylvania, which is now part of Romania. The first movement, 'The Old Man's Lament', is a mournful song in which an old man laments the loss of his youth and the passing of time. The second movement, 'The Peacock', is a lively and colorful song that describes the beauty of a peacock's feathers. The third movement, 'The Lover', is a passionate love song in which the singer declares his love for his beloved. The fourth movement, 'The Elopement', tells the story of a young couple who run away together to escape the disapproval of their families. The fifth movement, 'The Lass from the Valley', is a cheerful song in which a young man sings the praises of a beautiful girl from the valley. The final movement, 'The Wedding', is a joyful celebration of a wedding, with the singer describing the festivities and the happiness of the newlyweds. Bartók's 'Székely Folksongs' is characterized by his use of folk melodies and rhythms, which he collected during his travels throughout Hungary and Transylvania. The songs are arranged in a simple and direct style, with the piano accompaniment providing a colorful and expressive backdrop to the vocal melodies. The work is a testament to Bartók's lifelong dedication to the preservation and promotion of traditional folk music, and remains a beloved and influential work in the repertoire of Hungarian art song.

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