Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 25, 2026

Friska

Friska, also known as Friss, is a term used in Hungarian folk dance. It is used in Hungarian dances where there is a sudden shift to a faster tempo in a certain section of the dance. This faster tempo section is called the friss or friska. Examples of Hungarian folk dances which have a friska section include the csárdás and the verbunkos.

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Jun 25, 2026
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Sheet music of the main part of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2.
Main part of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2. source ↗

Friska, also known as Friss, (from Hungarian: friss, fresh, pronounced frish) is a term used in Hungarian folk dance. It is used in Hungarian dances where there is a sudden shift to a faster tempo in a certain section of the dance. This faster tempo section is called the friss or friska. Examples of Hungarian folk dances which have a friska section include the csárdás and the verbunkos.1

Portions of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies (all except rhapsodies 3, 5 and 17) take their form from the csárdás and contain a friska section.2 The friska is generally either turbulent or jubilant in tone. The Friska of Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is also the most well-known of the Hungarian Rhapsodies.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Friss". Friss. Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. 2001. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.10287.
  2. Martin, György (1974). Hungarian Folk Dances. Corvina Press. ISBN 978-0-8002-1518-7.