In 1904, captivated by the songs sung by Hungarian peasants, Bartók resolved to collect folk songs, and began serious collection work in 1906. In the summer of 1907, he visited Csík County (present-day Romania) and conducted folk song collection for over a month. During this journey, Bartók was deeply moved by a melody played on a flute by an old shepherd, and he arranged this melody for flute and piano. Several months later, this melody was arranged for solo piano, resulting in the present Three Csík County Folk Songs. This is Bartók's first piano work arranged from folk music.

No. 1

A simple melody, played on a flute by a villager, is performed with various ornaments. These ornaments have strong improvisatory elements, and their performance is not easy. In Dorian mode.

No. 2

A melody in Aeolian mode is played with subtle tempo fluctuations. This song depicts the lament of lovers whose relationship is opposed by their parents.

No. 3

A folk music melody is sung over a clearly marked beat in tempo giusto. This song is about boys bidding farewell to their hometown due to conscription orders. The melody appearing in this piece is also used in the fifth piece of Eight Hungarian Folk Songs. Among the three pieces, the performance difficulty is relatively easy.