Author: Zeke Angéla

The Hungarian band named Erdőfű was born from the collaboration of táncház (‘dance-house’) musicians. Its members are all committed to the authentic performance of folk music tradition in the Carpathian Basin, both in dance-houses and concert venues. The aim of the initiative – which can also be regarded as a music workshop – is to provide a comprehensive picture of the string folk music of  Hungarian-populated areas as well as other ethnic groups living there, paying special attention to the particularities of a given region or settlement. The musical philosophy of Erdőfű is based on professional knowledge and proficiency in the specific instruments regarding the music tradition of a certain region, therefore, its members each are highly experienced in playing instrumental folk music. Their performances provide an opportunity for the audience to experience the unique sound of folk music in the Carpathian Basin through various instrumental formations and specific articulations.

CONTACT: erdofuzene@gmail.com

Zabavna Industrija was formed in 2008 in Budapest to express  its members’ love for Southern Slavic music. They speak several languages and dialects of the Serbo-Croatian family tree and adore the traditional music of the region. Accordingly, they play a wide range of melodies from the many ethnic groups and traditions of the Balkans, be it Serbian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Croatian or any mix of these. The purpose of their music-making is to maintain this musical heritage and increase its popularity.

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CONTACT: zabavnaindustrija@gmail.com / +36 30 5717 904

„If it wasn’t for this music, I wouldn’t have touched a violin ever again.”
Attila Halmos, band leader

Tükrös formed in 1986 with the purpose of playing traditional music of magyars within and outside of Hungary. Personal encounters, trips to Transylvania, experiencing folk tradition, still alive and well at the time, inspired the group of city boys with a classical music background to devote themselves to this heritage. Their models are the village bands of old, with their seasoned sync and tight play in service of dancers.
After a decade of playing together, they release their first album: Tükrös Ensemble: Hungarian Folk Music. It already displays a mature style and harmonious music making, along the unflinching love for the folk tradition. The band launches their own summer camp, first in Debrecen then in Simonpuszta, to pass over the experience of living music, songs and dances to hundreds. A growing number of domestic gigs are componded with invitations across the borders: Tükrös render the Hungarian musical heritage in Prague, Brno, Dortmund and Vienna.
The 2000s see overseas tours: Sidney, Melbourne, New York and Chicago are the band’s recurring destinations.

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CONTACT: tukros.zenekar@gmail.com

Suttyomba means „on the sly”, and suits the light-hearted, humorous approach to music characterizing the band since 1993. They are serious about tradition though: they play authentic folk music from across the Hungarian speaking territories within and outside of the borders. They are the definitive danchouse band of the southern Great Plain area, and frequently give concerts and play at folk-themed productions. While keeping their music authentic, they don’t refrain from popular tunes outside of the tradition and an opening towards world music.

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CONTACT:  suttyomba@gmail.com / +36 20 934 6096

Sültü play nothing but the authentic folk music of the Csángó people – a Hungarian minority living in Romania – of Moldavia and Gyimes, learned from old Csángó masters. The band recreates the atmosphere of these enchanted regions week by week at the dancehouses, concerts, family events and cultural festivals. The voice of Angelika Szilágyi, a Csángó from Csík village, lends further authenticity to their performance. If you would like to get to know the real Csángó music, dance the dances from Moldavia and learn beautiful archaic folk songs, look up, follow and meet Sültü band.

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CONTACT: benkoand@gmail.com / +36 20 471 7990

The name Rozsdamaró comes from a friend, and means „rust remover”. Rust refers to the crackly, archival recordings we use to learn the style and original sound of the village bands of old. We started playing together in the year 2000 in Szeged, released our first album in 2004 with the title „Then and Now” (Egykor és Most), and received the Young Artist of Folk Arts award in 2005.

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Most of us were drawn to folk music through dancing, only to realize that although music and dance are complementary, it’s hard to do them both at the same time. We chose to play music, a decision that has defined our lives ever since. Almost all of the members come from the same village: Üllés, in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary. We constantly train and study our rich folk heritage, and eagerly receive instruction from our masters, who still had the chance to learn from the legendary village musicians of the past century.

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CONTACT: rezhurosbanda@gmail.com

PásztorHóra: a secret encounter of lovers
PásztorHóra: urban Csángó folk band
Five young virtuosos adding a pinch of Moldavia to the big city rush: they are PásztorHóra!
Ever since its foundation in 2014, the band has played on more than one hundred stages, in four countries, for at least ten thousand people. The fun lasts overnight – no wonder, no one can resist their pounding rhythms and swirling tunes. They jump back and forth on the border of world- and folk music, modern ideas fuse with old and new traditions, making PásztorHóra light and natural, yet powerful. The archaic style of old countrymen becomes a modern, 21^st century drift, making it fit to today’s stages, proving that folk music is in fact historic and contemporary at the very same time.
Released this year, their first album summarizes their past five years very well. Its title: Soha el nem felejtelek /’Never going to forget you’/. The album bears the footsteps of the band’s life, as its members spent years preparing for it. Interoperability among styles is a trademark of the band. From early music to jazz, from pop to metal, each member has excelled in several genres of music. Balkan dynamics and classic elegance appear in their music hand-to hand, all forged into musical unity by their love for folk music. With their versatile personalities and fascinating concerts, the boys create an exceptional atmosphere, they create magic. They cast a spell you can’t escape!

“Although the influence of tradition and the old masters is clearly present, this rhythm is so contemporary and natural in every aspect, that no other genre-specific traits really matter.” Rácz Mihály, Lángoló Gitárok blog /’Flaming Guitars’ Blog/ (langologitarok.blog.hu)

“One of the best Moldavian albums released these recent years. Never going to forget you. Indeed.” Fehér Viktor, Kerekes Band

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CONTACT: pasztorhora@gmail.com / +36 30 375 7556

En-fiddled Carpathians is an adventure in folk music, which came into existence at a concert in 2016, 110 years after our folk music researcher, Béla Bartók commenced his fieldwork in the Hungarian language area in order to explore previously unknown rustic folk music. Since then, a great amount of material and knowledge has been accumulated regarding the folk music and dance of the people in the Carpathian Basin.
As the title of the issue denotes, the music on the record soars over the Trianon borders, showcasing the heritage of the various nationalities in the Carpathian Basin, thus emphasising Bartók’s endeavour, that is the knowledge of the cultural tradition of the peoples living here can contribute to the reinforcement of the brotherhood of these peoples. Balázs Vizeli got to learn this kind of music first hand from old musicians many of whom regrettably passed away. Yet, passing on the tradition hasn’t been broken, as Vizeli and his student, Attila Mihó recall the music of the old world.
En-fiddled Carpathians is a homage to the old masters and those without whom today’s folk music movement and scene wouldn’t have happened. On the album, Balázs Istvánfi plays dance-tunes from a North Hungarian piper’s repertoire, whereas Soma Salamon recalls the playing of flute players from Somogy, Szék, Magyarbece, Gyimes and Magyarszóvát.

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