Béla Bartók

As listeners approach the end of Mikrokosmos, they will find that not only does the music grow even more challenging in execution (Bartók designed its 153 pieces to progress in difficulty for the benefit of students), but that its expressive manner often displays greater depth. This piece, with a title that certainly does not promote its assets, may strike some on first hearing as cold and unappealing. Yet, it offers many subtle charms for the ear, while tossing in an array of thorny hurdles for the pianist to negotiate. Bartók commented on the interpretive and rhythmic challenges of the work, cautioning certain students to avoid playing it.

Divided Arpeggios opens with a series of ascending arpeggiated chords. There is a soothing yet detached sense to the music here. While the flowing manner continues throughout the piece -- both in upward and downward directions -- it takes on greater muscularity and intensity. Three times the music arrives at a resolution, always in emphatic, crisp chords of a fateful character. Lasting about two-and-a-half minutes, this is one of the deeper pieces in Mikrokosmos.