Composer

:

Béla Bartók

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1915

Average_duration

:

6:31

Béla Bartók's "Romanian Folk Dances" is a six-movement suite for solo piano, composed in 1915. The piece was later arranged for orchestra and has become one of Bartók's most popular works. The premiere of the piano version was in 1918, and the orchestral version was premiered in 1921. The six movements of the suite are based on traditional Romanian folk dances, which Bartók collected during his travels throughout the country. The first movement, "Bot tánc" (Stick Dance), is a lively dance in 2/4 time, featuring a driving rhythm and syncopated accents. The second movement, "Brâul" (Sash Dance), is a slower dance in 3/4 time, characterized by its use of a sash or belt as a prop. The third movement, "Topogó" (In One Spot), is a fast dance in 2/4 time, featuring a repeated melody and a driving rhythm. The fourth movement, "Bucsumí tánc" (Dance from Bucsum), is a slower dance in 2/4 time, featuring a haunting melody and a melancholy mood. The fifth movement, "Román polka" (Romanian Polka), is a fast dance in 2/4 time, featuring a playful melody and a lively rhythm. The final movement, "Aprózó" (Fast Dance), is a fast dance in 3/8 time, featuring a virtuosic piano part and a frenzied, energetic mood. The "Romanian Folk Dances" are characterized by Bartók's use of traditional folk melodies and rhythms, which he incorporates into his own unique style. The suite is notable for its use of asymmetrical rhythms, irregular meters, and dissonant harmonies, which give the music a distinctive, modernist sound. Despite its avant-garde elements, however, the suite remains accessible and appealing to a wide audience, thanks to its catchy melodies and lively rhythms. Overall, Bartók's "Romanian Folk Dances" is a masterful example of how traditional folk music can be transformed into modern art music, and it remains a beloved and frequently performed work in the classical repertoire.

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