Béla Bartók - An Evening in the Village (Ten Easy Pieces, No. 5)

Probably my favourite piece of music written by Bartók. I was really excited when I started learning this one nearly 2 years ago, even though it was still much too difficult at that point. The faster sections would just not go fast. My new teacher advised against gradually speeding up with a metronome, and instead just focussed, slow playing, so you train your brain to always be ahead of your fingers. And I'm really glad It worked out the way it did. I hardly ever played this faster part at or near tempo, and instead bored my girlfriend to death with meticulous, slow playing day after day.

This is also the first-ever piece where I 'cheated' and recorded it in two parts. I got such a perfect take on the first 4/5th of the piece, that I got very excited and completely lost myself. I don't feel too bad, because well, I think it turned out just fine.

Recorded on 28 February 2021