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

1. Rubato
2. Andante – Poco sostenuto – Più andante (Tempo I) – Poco sostenuto – Più andante
3. Poco rubato – Sostenuto
4. Andante

Old Dance Tunes

7. Allegro
8. Allegretto
9. Allegretto
10. L'istesso tempo
11. Assai moderato
12. Allegretto
13. Poco più vivo – Allegretto
14. Allegro
15. Allegro – Più vivo – Poco più meno vivo

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.^[1] However, such division is not present in the original score.

In 1933, Bartók adapted and orchestrated movements 6-15 of the piano version of the piece as Hungarian Peasant Songs, Sz. 100, BB 107.^[2][3] 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.^[4] This version of the piece is commonly known by its Hungarian name, Magyar parasztdalok ([ˈmɒɟɒr ˈpɒrɒstˌdɒlok]).

Instrumentation edit

The work is scored for the following orchestra:^[2]

Notable recordings of Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs include:

Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, Sz. 71, BB 79: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project