This compilation of essays, lectures, and scholarly papers from 1953 to the present includes insights obtained by the author over a half-century career as a Bartók specialist. Divided into three parts, chapters examine Bartók as a multifaceted music figure: composer, folklorist, pianist, and teacher. As composer, it includes program notes, an introduction to his principles of composition, and theoretic-analytical discussion of selected works, including Mikrokosmos . As folklorist, it examines the outcome of Bartók's fieldwork, methodology, and findings in East European, Arabic, and Turkish autochthonous folk music materials. Bartók's American years are also discussed. The narrative is supported by a substantial number of musical examples and references. Particularly essential for music teachers and university students, it is an indispensable resource for future research in Bartók studies. It is also intended for theorists, ethnomusicologists, and musicians interested in understanding Bartók 's compositional processes and methodology.