This article focuses on the examination of the rondo principle in Béla Bartók's piano works. The study aims to theoretically analyze the formal structure, modal-harmonic organization, thematic transformation processes, and rhythmic characteristics of the work through the example of the cycle "Three Rondos on Slovak Folk Tunes" (Sz. 84); it will also briefly address the basic performance principles. The aim is also to determine the theoretical foundations of the rondo principles in Béla Bartók's piano works; specifically, how the classical rondo form has transformed within the composer's individual style, as exemplified in the cycle of Three Rondos on Slovak Folk Songs. The transformation of the classical rondo form within the musical thot conditions of the 20th century and its interaction with folkloric sources, the role of folk music in the formation of Bartók's compositional language, and the characteristics of his modal-harmonic system, polymodality, and rhythmic organization are at the center of the study. The study has been designed as a holistic case study, adopting the descriptive analysis pattern from qualitative research methods, examining the rondo structure in Bartók's compositional language through a specific sample. In this context, the study addresses Béla Bartók's Three Rondos on Slovak Folk Songs cycle with a holistic approach, considering it as a foundational element of rondo principles in the national musicology literature. The research demonstrates that the composer's use of the rondo form is not a mere repetition of the traditional scheme. On the contrary, Bartók reinterprets this principle, transforming it into a flexible compositional mechanism that can be combined with variational development, polymodal harmony, complex metric-rhythmic structures, and polyphonic writing elements. Particular attention is drawn to the interaction between folkloric melodic material and contemporary compositional techniques, which leads to an original synthesis of tradition and innovation. As a result of the analytical examination of the three rondos, the characteristics related to the formal structure, modal-harmonic arrangement, thematic development, and rhythmic dynamism of the works are revealed. Additionally, this cycle demonstrates the evolution of Bartók's compositional style: in the first rondo, a more direct relationship with the folk melody is observed, while in the second and third rondos, the harmonic language, texture, and rhythmic energy become increasingly complex. The research findings allow us to consider Béla Bartók's piano cycle "Three Rondos on Slovak Folk Tunes" as a striking example of the transformation of the classical rondo form within the composer's individual compositional system. At the same time, this work can also be considered an important example of the synthesis of folkloric tradition with the 20th-century modernist musical language.
By subscribing to E-Newsletter, you can get the latest news to your e-mail.