The Rough Guide to Hungarian Music [CD]

Selection #1 sung by Iren Lovasz and played by Laszlo Hortobagyi is an example of ancient music based on the pentatonic scale, a very old folksong about a peacock. #2 is by the ever popular and internationally known Marta Sebestyen and Muzsikas, a "hajnalos" which is a "song to the dawn", meaning the last song sung after an all-night wedding celebration, when the sun was rising. This one is from Kalotaszeg (Transylvania). #3 is a modern version of a Mezosegi song (Transylvanian tune), which contains highly original violin embellishments, with an up-to-date vocal style by Szilvana. A magnificent variety of absolutely astonishing and energetic "tanc-haz" (dance house) music is included: "Round Dances" by Bogyiszlo Orchestra, "Friss Csardas" by Traditional Band from Tura feat. & Tibor Szenasi, the compelling traditional violin embellishments and stylizations by Mihaly Halmagyi from Moldavia is accompanied by his wife on the "gardon", Okros Ensemble, a very popular group, plays a series of dance tunes from the Rabakoz region (Raba is a river in NW Hungary, runs through the city of Gyor), "Dances from Lorincreve" (Transylvania) played by Zsigmond Szekely and the finale "Rakosi Indulo" (march) is played by Tukros Zenekar, who are also accompanied by the village band of Nyirmada. It signals the end of dancing for the night.

This CD contains a very special a capella solo by Juliana Gorbe which is in the old-style pentatonic scale. An instrumental version of the same song, included in a trio of tunes, played by Bogyiszlo Orchestra follows. The famous composer and folklorist Zoltan Kodaly identified this piece as representative of the ancient scale dating back to Turkic and Central Asian times.

There is a beautifully song, "Song of Mercy" ("Konyorges") presented by the Romani group, Kalyi Jag. It is a supplication to God, in essence a leap of faith, despite the misfortunes suffered by the Gypsies. Other Romani groups on this CD are:
Kampec Dolores, who sing about a buffalow ride at night, in a highly original creative verse, while retaining the essential elements of gypsy music. Romano Drom, a recent Vlach Romani group, sing a traditional song, providing the typical vocalizations and percussion that is distinctive to these gypsies. Fekete Vonat, is the most modern gypsy group. They sing about the past, when gypsy workers were brought to Budapest in a train from the East, and lived in hostels during the week. They create a "gypsy rap" that falls into place very nicely with oral percussion that has always been part of their tradition.

Last but not least, Ghymes, from Slovakia, provides the most unexpected and my favorite music on this CD: "Dance in the Snow". It sounds completely Hungarian both in theme and tune, but is played in 7/8 Balkan rhythm, complete with violin instrumentation ... a magnificent eclectic creation, that melds the best of both traditions! Anyone who saw the movie, "The English Patient", and was fascinated by the music, should buy this CD. If you love violin music ... this CD is for you! If international folk dance is your passion: you *MUST* own this CD!
Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)

The geographical area from which this music is selected is not limited to Hungary as we know it today. For example, Transylvania (of Dracula fame) was once a part of Hungary but is now part of Romania. Traditional music has a stronger following there than in contemporary Hungary so some Transylvanian acts have been included, where their music is appropriate. Other countries bordering Hungary, particularly Slovakia and Serbia, have significant Hungarian-speaking areas that once were part of Hungary. There are also minority groups within Hungary whose own music has become part of the Hungarian scene. These include Serbs, Croats and Gypsies. The geographical limits are further stretched by the inclusion of a German group calling themselves the Transylvanians, who comprise mainly expatriate Hungarians. Among the artists based in Hungary are some that perform traditional music influenced by other lands, and not just those nearby. So some artists aren't based in Hungary while some tracks aren't especially Hungarian, but all the music here has a strong connection to Hungary, one way or another.

If some of the tracks here (especially the closing instrumental track) sound like a simplified form of classical music, that shouldn't surprise you - after all, classical music has its roots in European folk music.

While the impressive liner notes are in English, they do not say anything about the lyrics of the various songs. I don't mind hearing people sing in a foreign language but there was a time when I did. If you enjoy traditional folk music in any form, you are likely to enjoy this unless you have to understand the words.