“Csárdás” (or “Czardas“) is a rhapsodical concert piece by the Italian composer Vittorio Monti. Written in 1904, the folkloric piece is based on a Hungarian csárdás. It was originally composed for violin, mandolin, or piano. There are arrangements for orchestra and for a number of solo instruments. “Csárdás” is about four-and-a-half minutes in duration.
Csárdás is a traditional Hungarian folk dance, the name derived from csárda (old Hungarian term for roadside tavern and restaurant). It originated in Hungary and was popularized by bands in Hungary as well as neighbouring countries and regions such as of Slovenia, Burgenland, Croatia, Transylvania, Slovakia, Vojvodina and Moravia, as well as among the Banat Bulgarians, including those in Bulgaria. The csárdás is characterised by a variation in tempo: it starts out slowly (lassú) and ends in a very fast tempo (friss, literally “fresh”). There are other tempo variations, called ritka csárdás, sűrű csárdás and szökős csárdás. The music is in 24 or 44 time. The dancers are both male and female, with the women dressed in traditional wide skirts, which form a distinctive shape when they whirl.
Csárdás has seven distinct mini-“movements”, or different sections, usually changing in tempo and feeling (and, occasionally, key). The first half of the piece is in D minor; it modulates to D major, then back to D minor, and then finally concludes in D major.
The sections are as follows:
- Andante – Largo
- Allegro vivo
- Molto meno
- Meno, quasi lento
- Allegro vivace
- Allegretto
- Molto più vivo
It is generally expected for the piece to be played with some rubato. There are also many dynamic changes, ranging from pianissimo to fortissimo. In the Meno, quasi lento section, the violin plays artificial harmonics; this technique involves the musician placing their finger over a note while playing another note, with the finger only just barely pressing onto the string, five semitones higher. This gives the effect of the violin sounding two octaves (24 semitones) higher.
