Bartókian cittern (influence)

A Bartókian cittern influence refers to the way composer Béla Bartók's use of folk melodies, modal scales, and rhythmic patterns has shaped the sound of the cittern—a stringed instrument—when it incorporates similar qualities. This influence emphasizes a focus on traditional, often rural, musical elements, combining them with innovative techniques. In practical terms, it means the instrument's music adopts a raw, lyrical character rooted in Eastern European folk traditions, reflecting Bartók’s broader approach of blending folk inspiration with modern composition methods to create emotionally expressive and structurally unique music.