This is an early work by Kodály, early enough that is does not reflect the composer's then-burgeoning interest in folk music. In fact, its date of composition, 1905, was the year he embarked on his first junkets to the rural areas of Hungary to collect folk songs. Kodály initially conceived this work for viola and piano, but later made quite effective versions for violin and piano and for cello and piano. Ironically, the piece is heard more often in the arrangement for cello rather than in its original viola scoring. The work features a lovely, Romantic theme of strongly melancholic character. In its dark but lovely lamentation, it is probably better suited to the viola and cello rather than to the sweeter violin. As the music progresses, one will notice the influence of Brahms, though the young Kodály still shows he has a talent for melody and possesses both a firm grasp on form and on integrating the stringed instruments in the various versions with the piano accompaniment. This utterly sad but beautiful work typically has a duration of eight or nine minutes.

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