Béla Bartók: Mikrokosmos Piano Solo Vol. 1 Progressive Piano Pieces contains Nos. 1-36.
The composer described Mikrokosmos as a cycle of pieces for piano written for “didactic” purposes, seeing them as a series of pieces in many different styles, representing a small world, or as the “world of the little ones, the children”. Stylistically Mikrokosmos reflects the influence of folk music on Bartok's life and the rhythms and harmonies employed create music that is as modern today as when the cycle was written.
The pieces and exercises are arranged in progressive order according to the technical and musical difficulty. However, the teacher may alter this order in accordance with the ability of the pupil. The metronome marks should be considered as approximate indications only. Many of the first pieces may be played slower or faster than indicated.
Major teaching points highlighted in Mikrokosmos 1: Unison Melodies, Dotted Notes, Repetition, Syncopation, Parallel Motion, Question and Answer, Contrary Motion, Imitation and Counterpoint, Imitation and Inversion.