The date of composition of the latter two of these rondos is in doubt, but they likely come from 1927, or at least from the late '20s. The first rondo uses a Slovak children's folk theme and is, not surprisingly—in view of Bartók's deft ability to arrange and use folk material of all varieties, including the simple and child-like—the most popular of the trio. But the latter two are hardly to be dismissed as inferior creations, especially the last, which many claim to be the finest.

The first, marked Andante and untitled like the other two, features an innocent-sounding theme played in a somewhat lullaby-like manner. Faster variants, the first marked Allegro molto and the playful next, Allegro giocoso, offer variety and color, before the main theme returns to close the piece charmingly. The second rondo mixes the modern with the more simple folk styles of the past, thus yielding much color in the contrasting nature of the material. The frantic opening theme settles into a calm demeanor before eventually bringing on a playful variant in the central episode. The calm returns, after which the frisky opening material is reprised. The last rondo, with its somewhat savage opening music alternating with a chipper folkish melody that later turns agitated and darker, features a subtle sense of development and deft use of a variety of materials.

The three rondos range from about two minutes in duration (No. 1) to two and a half minutes. All are brilliant efforts.

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