Today, we will catapult ourselves to Hungary, the start of our music and
culture journey, which will go from there along the Danube in all kind of
directions, up and down for us exotic scales and modes, moving across borders
on various dance rhythm patterns and time signatures.
On this page, I would like to share with you various things
about traditional Hungarian music. I’m fascinated by it, not just because it is
a great music to play – soulful and beautiful, sometimes even heart-breaking
slow pieces next to a lively and great fun dance music. Simple folk-type
accompaniment chords can be found next to very complex and intricate harmonies
and chords. Also, how the Romany music intermingles with local folk music,
and drifts apart again through history in so many places.
If you feel like learning some pieces the traditional way by
ear, then scroll down to the end of each post, to find the relevant links. I
also published a collection of Hungarian songs and pieces from both, Romany and
folk tradition, also at the end of the page.
This article explores Hungarian Romany music, part of
the Rombase online knowledge base published by the Uni Graz. It also
mentions various Romany tribes, whose music we will explain later in more
detail:
This little mini docu includes lots of music and images, and
will bring images and sounds to the above article. Some history, instruction of
famous musicians and specific instruments will bring the story to life:
Lets have a look at some typical Hungarian folk music and
dance, and hear a slight contrast:
On this journey, we also will come across some
misconceptions: The question here: is this famous Monti Czardas, performed in
every Hungarian Czarda (restaurant) actually a Czardas, or is it even
Hungarian?
Lets first listen to it, being performed by the famous
classical violinist Maxim Vengerov:
The answer is: NO. It is a classical composition by the
Italian composer Vittorio Monti, but adapted by many Romani and included into
their repertoire, as it is a great piece, very audience pleasing and therefore
tip-inspiring.
This article will tell us, what a real traditional Hungarian
Czardas is all about:
Also, learn about many other Hungarian folk dance styles,
and watch some great videos 😊
Some more reading here, made more interesting by pictures
and a video: This article explores the relationship between Hungarian Folk and
Gypsy music, analysing the cross-influences with each other and aiming to
dissect which music belongs to which category. A lot is being answered in
m=interviews with various performing musicians:
I also wrote an article, in order to get to understand a
different dilemma: I know so much Hungarian Roma music, which I all learned
under the label of Hungarian Gypsy music. Yet, there a at least two distinct
styles. I could sort out my confusion by doing some specific research:
Too much reading, lets lighten up the spirits again by
watching a video: This is a scene of a Romani wedding, it took place
in Britain in 1938. You hear of interesting customs and hear all
lovely Hungarian Gypsy music:
Lets get more scientific again: This article is on Verbunk,
a music style primarily performed by Romungro Romany people (the Romany tribe
which arrived in Europe in the 15th century), originally created by Romungro
Romany musicians and Hungarian folk musicians together. It is the predecessor
of the type of music which is nowadays performed in Hungarian and Austrian
restaurants:
Lets listen to some Verbunk music: Tcha
Limberger is one of the most knowledgeable musicians in this area of music, and
one of the best players of this type of music I know. Here with his Kalotaszeg
Trio:
Here, I'm myself performing a piece called Pushta,
which has developed from the Verbunk tradition, in a
slightly polished style suitable for performances for white
people:
Lets finish for today with a selection of pictures of the Pushta (a region of
wide open plains, famous for horse breeding) and around, I took on one of my
first trips to Hungary in 1992:
Kecskemét in September 1992: Town close to the Hungarian Pushta:
Bugac, a village in the Pushta:
I remember that this village was a really small one and I
was completely oblivious to the fact that I arrived on a Saturday in the late
afternoon, so nothing was open, apart from a dark pub, full with old men
smoking – quite scary. Being really hungry, I went to the fields instead and
stole some vegetables, as I had no food with me. Later in the evening, my
landlady popped by and I got offered samples of homemade bakery things,
involving a huge amount of flour, butter and creamy cheese. By the end of the day
I was over-stuffed with delicious but really heavy food.
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Tutorials:
Amalo - Hungarian instrumental:
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