Its middle movement, in particular, is so desolate as to push the limits of expressivity.

The one flaw in the piece is that its middle movement seems to stretch one or two minutes too long.

The work had nice moments, notably the finely scored flourish at the end of the middle movement.

The two middle movements, seamlessly connected, offer the work's greatest rewards.

There is some controversy over the order of the two middle movements.

The performance was well blended, especially in the polished diminuendo close of the middle movement.

If anything the middle movement is too fast, while the finale is rather well paced.

The relaxed middle movements sounded good here, but the big treat was the finale.

Bartók subsequently added a middle movement and changed the work's title to Contrasts.

The middle movement is filled with a bitter, almost brutal humor.