Béla Bartók

Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68 (BB 76)

Originally written in 1915 by Béla Bartók (1881-1945) as a piano suite (Sz. 56) of six short movements, borrowing from the work he did with Kodály collecting and classifying thousands of folk tunes during their treks into the most remote regions of Hungary, ROMANIAN FOLK DANCES was later orchestrated in 1917 by the composer for a reduced orchestra. Based on seven Romanian tunes from Transylvania, usually played on fiddle or shepherd's flute, it was initially named "Romanian Folk Dances from Hungary." The title was later changed by Bartók when Transylvania became part of Romania in 1920. Dances/movements included: I. Bot tánc / Jocul cu bâta (Stick Dance), II. Brâul (Sash Dance), III. Topogó / Pe loc (In One Spot), IV. Bucsumí tánc / Buciumeana (Dance from Bucsum), V. Román polka / Poarga Româneasca (Romanian Polka), and VI. Aprózó / Mărunțel (Fast Dance). Instrumentation in set: 2(2dPicc).0.2.2: 2.0.0.0: Str (9-8-7-6-5).