Béla Bartok's Mikrokosmos - Vol. I is a book of short and simple, yet quirky piano pieces. Piece No. 24. Pastorale is shown below.
A full bar rest (for both hands) ends the piece. This is something I haven't seen before for a solo performer, and I can't make much sense of it.
Analysing the form/structure:
The piece is in ternary (ABA) form, with each section being 8 (or perhaps 7+1) measures long.
The phrasing slurs generally conform to these sections, but there are anacrusis-type-things (marked in brown) that start the phrases of the second and third section "early".
How are these "extra notes" functioning musically?
I understand that music doesn't have to follow any rules, and usually sounds more interesting when it occasionally doesn't; and this piece does sound "good". But as far as I can tell, it sounds just as good without the final measure.
If the phrasing is not following an 8-measure-per-section structure strictly, then why is the last bar not just omitted?
What is the musical function of the full bar rest at the end of the piece?