Béla Bartók won considerable repute as a pianist before finding success as a composer. A major influence throughout his creative life was the folk-music of his native Hungary, which along with that of Slovakia inspired the two volumes of For Children, written in Bartók’s late twenties. Although described as little pieces for beginners, without stretches of an octave, they offer a much wider view of music than is usual in teaching material. Despite the apparent simplicity of the folk-tunes, they led directly to Bartók’s development into one of the most original and interesting composers of the 20th century.