Bonchida-Bécs-Budapest

Concert night

 

The Orchestra of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble plays the most famous tunes of the 19^th and 20^th century and folk music from different regions of the Carpathian Basin. Beside the classic string instruments (violin, viola, double-bass), authentic folk instruments such as bagpipe, taragot, cymbal and hit-gardon can be heard. This amusing concert presents the musical world of the huge "melting-pot" in which such outstanding musical values could develop. From Transylvanian dance music through the 'verbunk' or Brahms's Hungarian Dances to the music of the recently deceased Csángó fiddler, János Zerkula - these tunes still define the music of the Carpathian Basin.

 

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Part I

'Dense' and 'loose' men's dance from Bonchida (Bonţida, Transylvania)

As a Hungarian proverb says: "There was a huge feast all the way from Hencida to Bonchida." These two villages lie some 230 km (140 miles) apart, now on two different sides of the Hungarian border. The elegant and sophisticated dance music of Bonchida village is an outstanding piece of Hungarian folklore.

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5

The best known piece of Brahms's popular "Hungarian Dances" series, presented in a way Brahms would have heard it reproduced by contemporary Gipsy musicians at a café.

17^th cent. revolutionary tunes on taragot

The Hungarian wind instrument taragot (tárogató) became historically connected to the 17^th and 18^th century Hungarian revolutionary movements against the Hapsburg monarchy. The taragot's unique, bittersweet voice became a symbol of Hungarian independence movements ever since.

 János Bihari: Coronation verbunk

János Bihari was an influential musician at the end of the 18^th century. This piece became an emblem of the Hungarian 'verbunk' (recruitment music and dance) genre.

From Vienna, West to East (Southern Slovakia)

A musical reminiscence of the 1848-49 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence.

Pictures from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

This piece dates back to the times when Budapest was a popular cultural entrainment resort among the Viennese.

Morning song, czardas and 'swift dance' from the Kalotaszeg region (Transylvania)

The genre of the morning song originates form the pagan tradition of greeting the rising sun. This song is followed by popular dance tunes from the Kalotaszeg region

 

Part II 

Gipsy dance music from Szászcsávás (Ceuaş) and Őrkő (Sfântu Gheorghe) Transylvania

Two virtuoso pieces from Transylvanian gipsy settlements.

Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Liszt's rhapsodies, inspired by contemporary urban gipsy musicians, became exemplary pieces of 19^th century Romantic Hungarian patriotism.

Tunes from the Felcsík region (Transylvania)

The inhabitants of this region are the Székelys (Seklers), a special ethnic group within the Hungarian nation. The roughness of their natural surroundings is well reflected in their music, which however does not lack playfulness either. The Felcsík Székelys' characteristic rhythm instrument is the hit-gardon.

Romanian tunes for cymbal

The popularity of the Hungarian cymbal surpassed the borders of 19^th century Hungary. This is a selection of cymbal pieces from Moldova and Walachia, the areas of Romania beyond the Carpathians.

Wedding procession music from Bonchida (Bonţida, Transylvania)

On her way to the church, the bride and her family usually received musical accompaniment. This tradition led to the birth of several magnificent and sorrowful songs about parting with one's home, parents and maiden friends.

Finale

Musical jokes had been popular genres in times past. The concluding piece of this night is such a joke, themed on the music of Emir Kusturica's movies.

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Ágnes Herczku - voice

István Pál, Conductor/Lead fiddler - fiddle, voice

Ferenc Radics, Conductor/Lead fiddler - fiddle

Tamás Gombai - fiddle

Sándor Ürmös - cymbal

Zoltán Váradi - viola

Gyula Karacs - viola, drums

Róbert Doór - double-bass, hit-gardon

Tamás Radics - double-bass

Attila Gera - bagpipe, flutes, clarinet, kaval, taragot, saxophone

Vilmos Seres - clarinet, taragot, saxophone