on Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances: #1 'Stick Dance'

[allchopin]

I'd like to gather some information on this piece (as well as the others in the set, but with focus on the first) and to know what you who have played it think of it.  How does it compare to the rest of the dances?  I'll be playing it soon (and talking about it..) and would like to hear some background on the piece just to get ahead.  Thx

[pianonut]

dear allchopin,

i played the suite op. 14 (rumanian folk dances) and can remember a few things from my lessons (quite a few years ago now).  one was, the boosey and hawkes edition was suggested.  other teachers here on the forum may suggest other editions, or your teacher.  now that i am studying music again, i see the importance even more, of having a good edition.

ok.  fingering is all important in this because you want to be able to play it fast.  i have for rh simply 1 and 5 on the f and d for the first four measures.   then, when it switches up to the fifth measure use your fourth finger on the top note (d) then 3-4-5 on c-d-e  and again on e-f#-g.  if you maintain the same fingerings on most patterns it is much better, unless you like "winging it" a lot.  i found my memory to be more solid working out all the fingering first.

at m. 27 use 4-5-3-4-4  on the d-e-ce-b.  it's hard at first, but much faster later.  you know, bartok (using unusual melodies) really helps a pianist learn a lot about fingering.  especially with knowing which fingers to use on accents, held out notes, unusual patterns of notes, unusual rhythms.  i'll write more later, cause i've got a class and have to do some homework, too.

[dmk]

dear allchopin,

i played the suite op. 14 (rumanian folk dances) and can remember a few things from my lessons (quite a few years ago now). one was, the boosey and hawkes edition was suggested. other teachers here on the forum may suggest other editions, or your teacher. now that i am studying music again, i see the importance even more, of having a good edition.

......

Sorry allchopin, correct me if I am wrong but the suite op 14 and the Romanian Folk Dances aren't the same work.  The Romanian Folk Dances were composed in 1915, a year earlier than the Suite, and are a set of 6 dances.  Bartok was hugely interested in the collection of folk music and you can year the influence of romanian folk music in other works such as the Sonatina (another fantastic piece!)
 --

As for Joc cu Bata (dance with a stick).  I love this piece!! I really like the whole set and use it for teaching a lot..  I also like no 2 Braul (it is short but a lot of fun) and no 5 Romanian Polka.  As for how it compares with others in the set...well its probably somewhere in the middle for difficulty, i've never really thought about it to be honest!!

Some tips on performing this piece
  -  It should be rhythmic (and rhythmically precise) with lots of vitality BUT not too    fast.   It is supposed to be played Allegro Moderato (i would suggest something around crotchet = 80-88/92 (maybe))

  -  Watch that all the ends of your phrases are really neat and come off together precisely (eg first bar off together etc....this makes more sense with an audio visual demo...I hope you understand what I mean!!)

  -  Be really careful with the pedalling, it to needs to be very precise...

Key to this one really is make it rythmic as well as being 'neat and tidy' if you get what I mean!!!   

I have more background information on this set...I have to go to work and track down the book...i'll post back on this @ some point..

Good luck and enjoy

dmk

[allchopin]

Sorry allchopin, correct me if I am wrong but the suite op 14 and the Romanian Folk Dances aren't the same work.  The Romanian Folk Dances were composed in 1915, a year earlier than the Suite, and are a set of 6 dances. 

No, you are not wrong, but it is pianonut you are referrring to 
It is a set of 6 Romanian Folk Dances (Sz. 56).

As for Joc cu Bata (dance with a stick). 

What is the purpose of this piece?  Is it to accompany dancers perhaps, or to simply sound rhythmic like the Stomp group?  Maybe it would work better with visuals like you said.

Also, what do you make of the theory/structure behind this piece?

[jlh]

ok.  fingering is all important in this because you want to be able to play it fast. 

Yes, fingering is important, but the stick dance is not a fast one, per se.  Only the last 2 are fast.

[pianonut]

thank you, dmk, for your accurate correction.  I've been a little scatterbrained lately, and even when typing my first answer was thinking it wasn't one and the same.  just ignore the post.

i was looking at editions and apparently there is a Peter Bartok (related maybe) that is also under editions (besides boosey and hawkes).  Also, there is a recording of Bartok, himself, playing all his works.  It would be interesting to hear.

ps.  i like the quote from the wine bottle.