Béla Bartók

Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs

Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, Sz. 71, BB 79 is a collection of short folk melodies arranged for piano by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. It was composed between 1914 and 1918. In 1933, Bartók

Structure#

The collection consists of fifteen movements, some of which are grouped together. A typical performance lasts 13–15 minutes. The movement list is as follows: :Four Old Tunes : :Old Dance Tunes : Some critics claim Bartók intended the work to be split into two parts: the first one would include the first six movements, and the second one would include the following nine movements. However, such division is not present in the original score.

Orchestral version#

In 1933, Bartók adapted and orchestrated movements 6-15 of the piano version of the piece as Hungarian Peasant Songs, Sz. 100, BB 107. While this version cuts the first five movements of the original and parts of the thirteenth, it also adds material, such as additional variations in movement 12. This version of the piece is commonly known by its Hungarian name, ().

Instrumentation#

The work is scored for the following orchestra: Woodwinds : 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo) : 2 oboes (2nd doubling English horn) : 2 clarinets (2nd doubling bass clarinet) : 2 bassoons Brass : 2 horns : 2 trumpets : 2 trombones : 1 tuba Percussion : timpani : bass drum Strings : harp : violins I : violins II : violas : cellos : double basses

Notable recordings#

Notable recordings of Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs include:

Composer: Béla Bartók