The quiet, emotional song which begins in the low register of the piano is about a young fisherman on Lake Balaton and the loss of his beloved girl, as well as the fish from his net. The piano imitates the cimbalom just before the lively second theme, elaborated later by variations in the violin. (The third variation combines bowed notes with pizzicato chords.) The third melody leads into rapid passagework which juxtaposes surprising harmonies one after the other until the final cadence.
from notes by Amnon Shaham © 2004