INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO
MUSIC WOR LD, WO R L D MUSIC
DEAR READER , You are keeping the finest selection of Hungarian folk, roots and world music bands of 2017 in your hands. The annual brochure of the Hungarian Heritage House is presenting a large and representative sample of contemporary performing artists whose art is deeply rooted in the rich and colourful musical traditions of the Carpathian Basin. The traditional folk culture of Hungary and its neighbouring countries as well as their ethnic groups has always provided a fertile ground for studying intangible cultural heritage and has always been able to fill the soul with energy. The mission of the Hungarian Heritage House is to resettle the folklore heritage of the Carpathian Basin into today’s and tomorrow’s cultural life. Its ensemble, the world famous Hungarian State Folk Ensemble brings all the genres related to folk tradition to the stage, from historical music through authentic folk music and folk dance, to world music and dance shows based on traditional elements. The institute offers all types of folk activities in Hungary as well as
abroad, including craft and dance workshops, folk concerts, dance houses, folk art markets and exhibitions. In the institute’s folklore database, you can browse a large number of folk music and dance records online. The international department is committed to getting the international audiences acquainted with the values of Hungarian folk arts, especially with the folk, roots and world music. Members of the department are happy to provide you with necessary information about the bands in either genre: traditional folk music, re-adapted folk music or both. Both, because we believe that the better you know traditional folk music the better you can adapt it. So that our music truly belongs to the world, and becomes world music. László Kelemen general director Hungarian Heritage House
BABRA MEMBERS
BABRA
Koller Dániel tamburas, vocal Babcsán Bence tambura, wind instruments, vocal Varga Veronika double bass, vocal Pozsonyi Dávid tamburas percussion, vocal Réti Benedek accordion
„The music of tambura has spread a slowly intoxicating vapour over the Carpathian Basin, and currently we are breathing in this rich, bright and airy music which is funny and sad at the same time and which always tickles our souls so much…” www.babraband.com www.facebook.com/babraband
BABRA The music of Babra reinforces the diverse line of South Slavic folk music, while adding freshness, green tendrils and colours to it. Babra has become one of the popular urban folk music bands of Budapest in a very short time, by authentically representing the more dense music traditions of the Balkan region, as well as the South Slavic tambura music influenced by the music of Hungarian and Gipsy people living in the region.
Their music can be characterized by excellent and structured instrumentation, besides stylish and polyphonic vocals which are presented by sweeping energy and elan at their concerts. Simon Broughton, the chief editor of Songlines Magazine commented their performance in the following way: “absolutely highlight”. They already performed at the Bela Bartok National Concert Hall in MÜPA Palace of Arts and had the opportunity to play at the Hungarian Showcase Day of the WOMEX 2015, Budapest.
CSÁNGÁLLÓ MEMBERS Sára Csobán saxophone, kaval Bagi Bálint tárogató (Hungarian wind instrument), flutes Gárgyán Zoltán Tamás clarinet, jaw harp
CSÁ NGÁ L LÓ
Johannes Olsson accordion Bősze Tamás Jean-Pierre vocals, percussion
DISCOGRAPHY
”Music is a universal language which heals, uplifts and lets us fly on the wings of imagination, to make us return to our roots which feed us, so the leaves growing from the branches can dance freely in the light.”
Csángálló Zenekar: Fel az úton - Fonó Records (2016)
www.facebook.com/csangallo www.csangallo.hu
CSÁ NGÁ L LÓ Csángálló is a family of five souls, always accompanied by the sound of music and festivities. In their music the world of Gyimes and Moldavian Csángó’s meet the exciting folk music of the Balkans, which is extended through free thinking, improvisation, composing and singing. This all adds up to a brand new sound.
Their collective dream started in 2009, and since then their name has become well known in the Hungarian folk and world music scene. They perform regularly in the Budapest táncház clubs, in summer festivals and abroad. They have worked together with internationally recognized artists such as Tcha Limberger and Félix Lajkó, with whom they opened O.Z.O.R.A Festival in 2016, where they played for more than 20 000 people.
ENYEDI ÁGNES MUSICIAN PEERS Salamon Soma flute, kaval, accordion Enyedi Tamás cimbalom (Hungarian dulcimer) Mihó Attila violin Maruzsenszki Andor violin
E N Y EDI ÁGN E S
Fekete Márton viola Éri Márton viola Tóth Máté contrabass András Orsolya gardon, vocals
DISCOGRAPHY With her characteristic voice, deep and strong commitment to Hungarian folk music, Enyedi Ágnes emerged from her generation’s folk singers quite early.
With the love of a turtledove. Hungarian folk music from Transylvania. – 2009, Fonó Records
www.facebook.com/enyediagnes.official
EN Y ED I ÁGN E S She is a well-known and prominent singer of the Hungarian ’dance house movement’, member of several music ensembles (including Magos and Tázló bands), guest singer of the professional Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and Duna Art Ensemble, participant of various music projects and albums.
As a teacher her main focus is on sharing her knowledge and affection to authentic folk music. Ágnes, who has won Junior Prima and Young Master of Folk Art Awards, regularly has concerts as a singer of her folk band or member of her trio or duo sets with Soma Salamon and Tamás Enyedi. The young singer’s first solo album was released in 2009, now she is working on publishing the CD of her intimate theatrical folk music performance.
ETNOR OM MEMBERS Balog József vocals, guitar, lyrics Künstler Ágnes vocals, lyrics Rózsa Béla guitar Kovács Krisztián cajon
ETNOR OM
Molnár Tamás saxophone, kaval Seres Vilmos saxophone
DISCOGRAPHY Gipsy World (Fonó, 2006) The world-famous ex-soloists of ‘Kalyi Jag’ Hungarian Gypsy folk group, Jozsef Balog and Agnes Kunstler founded EtnoRom Ensemble in 2005. All members of the band are virtuoso masters of Gypsy music, who grew up singing and playing music and toured the world from Japan to the United States. Their music broke borders: it was celebrated world-wide as the ‘first authentic Romany voice’ from Middle-Eastern Europe.
Diri Diri (Gryllus, 2011) Roma Flavors (ETHNIX Association, 2016)
www.etnorom.hu
ETNOR OM After twenty years of wanderings around the world, the foundation of EtnoRom is a sign- post at the musical crossroads of Jozsef Balog’s and Agnes Kunstler’s life, where traditional, rough Gypsy tunes and rhythms run into magical Gypsy jazz and swing, with exploding energy. Besides being the founder, song-writer and
singer of EtnoRom, Jozsef Balog is considered to be the ’King of Roma Ballads’ in Hungary, since he transmits emotions, passion and pain of the Gypsy heart with special sensitivity, in a unique voice and musical style. For his musical achievements, Jozsef Balog was nominated to be the ’Ambassador of Gypsy Music’ by the Blissful Ceferino Order.
GUESSOUS MAJDA MÁRIA BANDS GUESSOUS MESI TRIO: Guessous Majda Mária voice, bağlama Barvich Iván kaval, ney, tárogató (Hungarian woodwind instrument) tambura, riq, voice Boros Gerzson Dávid dabruka, bendir, udu, doromb, voice MESHINDA: Guessous Majda Mária voice, bağlama
GUESSOUS MAJ DA MÁ RI A
Tóth Szabolcs sitar, voice Barvich Iván kaval, bansuri, tambura Boros Gerzson Dávid darbuka, bendir, udu, voice
DISCOGRAPHY Meshinda Bosporus Overflowing (Trottel Records / FolkBeats, 2016) Guessous Meshi Trio ÖröMes/GladMesh (Trottel Records / FolkBeats, 2013) ”Through folk music, I would like to become a bridge between different people and different cultures. It is through folk music that I can best experience and express the nature of life and song, in the hope that it is not just I, but also others who take wing.”
Guessous Meshi Trio Szivárványhíd/Rainbow Bridge (Trottel Records / FolkBeats, 2011)
www.guessousmajdamaria.hu www.meshinda.hu/hu/nyitooldal
GUESSOUS MAJ DA MÁ RI A GUESSOUS Majda Mária (Meshi) is a Hungarian-Moroccan Junior Prima Award winner singer. In her music she explores the parallels in melodic tunes inherently existing in the different musical traditions of the world not especially in Hungarian, Moroccan and Indian folk music but Pakistani, Turkish, Kurd and Gipsy tunes also occur very often.
She had performances in the USA, Turkey, Morocco, India, Kazakhstan and in 2017 she was invited to Azerbaijan and to Kuvait. Meshi has been credited with several successes both nationally and internationally. She sang at the stages of famous festivals, for example in Morocco at the „Festival de Fès des musiques sacrées du monde”, in India „Delhi International Arts Festival” and in Spain „Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada | FEX”. „Her profoundity, intensity, lyricism, maturity are exceptional.” (László Távolodó Marton, Sziget Festival)
HURDY-GANG MEMBERS Ifj. Szerényi Béla hurdy-gurdy, tárogató, Eb-clarinette Zimber Ferenc cimbalom (Hungarian dulcimer)
HUR DY- G ANG
Buzás Áron tapan, darbuka, cajon, conga, bongo, cymbal
DISCOGRAPHY Bits and Pieces (2017) The formation has proven at a number of national festivals, how that smart verbunk had been interpreted way back in time.
www.facebook.com/hurdygang
HUR DY- GA N G The basis of their repertoire is mainly Hungarian music, enriched by latin, mostly Cuban and Brazilian rythms and harmonies, but traditional elements of related Asian nations can also be traced in their music. All members of the band have been dealing with Hungarian folk music since their childhood, so relying on solid foundations in folk music, they can blend it with other genres authentically and genuinely.
They build on bourdon music when compiling their sounding. The hurdy-gurdy enjoys central attention in the band, but other instruments equally add their parts. The rivalry of the hurdy-gurdy and the dulcimer, their fully complementary twirls by pushing the instrument’s technical boundaries as well as the accompaniment of the percussionist who is a master in jazz and Latin rhythms, provide a virtuoso and unique sounding. Members of the band regularly play together with famous and prominent artists, such as Márta Sebestyén, János Nagy, Edina Mókus Szirtes, Kornél Mogyoró, Judit Andrejszky.
KEREKES BAND MEMBERS Fehér Zsombor flute, vocal Námor Csaba koboz Csarnó Ákos viola Kónya Csaba bass Fehér Viktor drums
DISCOGRAPHY
KEREK ES BA N D
Kerekes Band Pimasz (2006) / EFB Music Kerekes Band Fel a kalappal (2008) / EFB Music Kerekes Band What The Folk?! (2011) / EFB Music Kerekes Band Folklore Man (2013) / EFB Musicv Kerekes Band Live at A38 (2014) / EFB Music
“This is informed, conceptually savvy, and innovative music.” Songlines Magazine Outlaws. They were vilified by the authorities but the commonfolk respected them as unbridled freedom fighters. Although their valiant struggle was against power and oppression, they sang their songs about heartbreaking lonesomeness and captivity.
Kerekes Band Argo 2 Soundtrack Album (2015) / EFB Music Kerekes Band Back To Følk (Music from Følkland) (2016) / EFB Music
www.kerekesband.hu
K EREK E S BA N D B“The shepherd raises the outlaw” – as the saying goes. Such is the shepherd heritage of the Fehér brothers who founded Kerekes Band. Their ancestors have been rounding up sheep for the Bishop of Eger since the 1700’s, and their great grandfather gave shelter to the most notorious outlaw whose life story inspired Mátrai képek, Zoltán Kodály’s symphonic masterpiece.
This rich heritage as well as the limitless drive for the neverending renewal of the Hungarian outlaw music is a source of inspiration for Kerekes Band. The shepherd’s flute, the Csángó koboz (lute) and the viola from Mezőség in perfect harmony gave birth to the distinctive sound of the band. The groove of tumbling basslines with driving drums provide a free flowing structure adding to a marked stage presence. True to the outlaw spirit, it is a tough, reckless yet uninhibited music. This formula proved to be successful: Songlines awarded them the Top of the World Album, multiple industry recognitions in Hungary and Europe-wide tours from Dun Laoghaire to the Sziget Festival.
JÚLIA KU BINYI – BAL Á ZS SZOKOLA Y DONG Ó DU O MEMBERS
JÚL I A K U B I NYI – BA L ÁZS S ZO KO L AY D O NG Ó D UO
The duo formation of Júlia Kubinyi and Balázs Szokolay Dongó is a special musical meeting in the Hungarian music. The two soloists’ music is based on Hungarian folklore, but in their interpretation the original voice and the melodic-oriented improvisation have an exciting connection.
Kubinyi Júlia vocals Szokolay Dongó Balázs wind instruments
www.facebook.com/Szokolay-Dongó-BalázsOfficial-419774231446233 www.facebook.com/kubinyijulia.nepdalenekes
JÚ L I A K U B IN YI – BA L ÁZS S ZO KO L AY D O N G Ó D UO Julia Kubinyi is a Junior Prima Award winner folk singer, ‘Young Master of Folk Arts’, finalist of the TV talent show “Fölszállott a páva” (The Peacock Talent Show) in 2012. Hungarian folk music and folk dance have been part of her everyday life since her childhood. She grew up performing and has appeared on numerous recordings as well as at Hungarian and international festivals in Europe and overseas. She is the dedicated singer of Dűvő Ensemble, however
she sings regularly as a guest-artist with many Hungarian folk music formations. In 2015 her own singing work came to the forefront with her first solo recording: Magam járom – On my way. Balazs Szokolay Dongo plays folk music and folk-music-inspired improvisations on the bagpipe, shepherds’ flute and saxophone. His folk music arrangements and compositions are inspired by the deep study of the Carpathian Basin’s folklore, and this is how his own improvisational musical style has formed, which carries the musical culture of old times and at the same time produces a modern, contemporary sound. An important part of his activities comprises his workshop where his art of playing folk music is consummated by historical music and improvisation. Owner of the Young Master of Folk Art title and Artisjus prize.
MESZECSINKA MEMBERS Oláh Annamária vocal, flutes Biljarszki Emil keyboards, guitar Vajdovich Árpád bass Krolikowski Dávid percussion + GUEST:
ME SZ E CSINKA
Karen Arutyunyan guitar
DISCOGRAPHY 2012 (Author’s edition, 2012) Kinyílok / I open up (NarRator Records, 2014) Ai (Author’s edition, 2015)
“Ecstatic self-awareness, lascivious dancing, blissfully screaming and staggering sensual happiness. The vocal magician is Annamaria, an elfin singer with flowing gestures, dances barefoot on the floor while her voice wanders with fluttering vibrato and throaty tone”
Álomban ébren / Awake in a dream (NarRator Records, 2016)
www.meszecsinka.hu www.facebook.com/meszecsinka
M E SZ E CS INKA That’s how Deggendorfer Zeitung (DE) described Meszecsinka. The band is one of the 12 best Hungarian world music bands according to the WOMEX edition of Dal+Szerző magazine. The band’s name means „Little Moon” in Bulgarian. Meszecsinka sings in seven languages and leads you into a Wonderland, where Bulgarian and Hungarian folk lives together with flamenco and psychedelics, oriental and experimental.
The band tours frequently in many European countries. They visited the USA and Canada, recorded video on the Red Square in Moscow and a road movie in the Balkan. Their art video “Kinyílok” (I open up) reached the sixth place on the videochart of World Music Network (UK) and fRoots Magazine (UK). The year 2017 started for the band in New York, where they performed at the APAP (Association of the Performing Arts Presenters) conference with great success.
ENIKŐ SZABÓ AND HER BAND MEMBERS Szabó Enikő voice, lyrics Csernók Klára viola, voice Kisgyőri Krisztián contrabass, voice
ENIKŐ SZABÓ AND HER BAND
Könczöl János guitar Molnár Mátyás percussions P. Szabó Dániel dulcimer
DISCOGRAPHY Eniko Szabo and her band spices up Hungary’s musical palette. Eniko showed her talents while performing with well-known artists such as Kálmán Balogh dulcimer player, the Elemer Balazs Group, Ökrös Band, the Honvéd Art Ensemble, Bela Agoston, the Tabulatura Ancient Music Ensemble, Pearly Clouds and Gary Lucas.
Szoknyák a porban / Skirts in the dust (Tom-Tom Records, Hungary, 2014)
www.szaboeniko.com www.facebook.com/szabooenikoo
ENIKĹ? SZABĂ“ AND HER BAND Their debut album consists of folk and folk-inspired world music with masterly orchestrated authentic folk instruments such as the violin, the viola, dulcimer but also guitar, percussion and double-bass. The captivating atmosphere of this unique music is interesting both for folk music fans and modern urban music lovers.
The album includes original compositions and traditional folk song arrangements. Listening to it can recall the unforgettable atmosphere of Eniko Szabo and her band’s live gigs, which is the real strength of the band. They love to play live and therefore on their concerts anyone can experience the exceptional mood, but beware: once one gets the taste of it, he can easily become addicted! They regularly have concerts in Hungary and abroad.
TARSOLY BAND MEMBERS Török-Ábrahám Brigitta voice Bencze Mátyás violin Margetán Máté wind instruments
TARSOLY BAND
Jobbágy Bence dulcimer Böröcz Balázs viola Hornich Thomas contrabass
DISCOGRAPHY Tarsoly Band is composed of 23-28-year-old young musicians. Since some of our members come from the region along the Galga river, the folk music of this region became the starting point of our common work but other dialects of the Hungarian-speaking territory are also represented in our repertoire. Besides other national awards, in 2011 we came in fourth place out of 50 contestants at the Folkbeats talent show.
Szombaton este Saturday evening (1G Records, 2011)
www.tarsolyband.com www.facebook.com/tarsoly.zenekar
TARSOLY BAND In 2012-13 we played for the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble on its guest performances. In 2012 our cooperation with the river cruising company Avalon Waterways developed a new side of the band. In 2013 we got into the semi-final of the television folk talent show called “Fölszállott a Páva”.
Besides having concerts as a music band, we provide music accompaniment to folk dance ensembles – we have successfully worked with Szilas and Bartina Folk Dance Ensembles on a number of occasions. In 2016, we won an award of excellence at the Folkdance Festival of Szekszárd. Our aim is to let people know and become fond of the traditional cultural heritage in Hungary and abroad. We are devoted to continuing to build a good reputation of Hungarian culture in Europe and beyond.
TÁZLÓ MEMBERS Enyedi Ágnes voice Draskóczy Lídia violin Sófalvi Kiss Csaba flutes, kaval, tilinka
TÁZLÓ
Németh László koboz Benke Félix drum, wind instruments
DISCOGRAPHY Tázló band from Budapest performs csángó-Hungarian folk music from Moldva (eastern part of Romania). The ancient atmosphere of the csángó dance rhythms and lyrical songs are fascinating and full of energy. The traditional instruments of this region, the flute and the violin together with the drum and the koboz (a kind of lute) make a unique sounding, completed with the voice of the singer.
Moldvai népzene Budapestről Moldavian folk music from Budapest (Mokányos Bt., 2014)
www.tazlo.hu www.facebook.com/tazloband
TÁZLÓ The members of the band have been collecting, studying and playing Moldavian folk music for the last 20 years. They build up their music using the csángó melodies freely combining with modern musical elements. Tázló band plays concerts, folk dance workshops (dance houses) in Hungary’s biggest folk music events and abroad.
The band is owner of the Dance-house Guild’s Award as the best dance house band in Hungary. They have an own dance house club, where folk and world music performers as well as iconic persons of the Hungarian Táncház Movement are regularly invited. Recently they have played together with Muzsikás, Márta Sebestyén, Ferenc Sebő, Cimbaliband, Rackajam, Zuboly and Góbé bands.
ZAGYVA BANDA MEMBERS Fundák-Kaszai Lili vocals Boda Gellért violin Szabó András viola Boda Márton contrabass Mucsinyi Dániel wind instruments Tóth Sebestyén cimbalom (Hungarian dulcimer)
ZAGYVA BANDA
Kádár Ignác accordion, gardon, vocals
DISCOGRAPHY Ott annak a helye… (KÉZ Kft., 2011) Talpalávaló I. – Sárköz – Bogyiszló (Saramis, 2012) Talpalávaló II. – Kalocsa-vidék (Saramis, 2012)
Folk music is not only an unrivalled treasure that is to be preserved, but also a living form of entertainment, and it is a guilt not to make use of it.
Játék… Határok nélkül… (Neogót, 2015) Talpalávaló III. – Galga mente (2017)
www.zagyvabanda.hu www.facebook.com/zagyvabanda
ZAGYVA BANDA Over the past fifteen years, Zagyva Banda has become a decisive representative of the Hungarian táncház movement. The band has been brought up with the Táncház Method, which is recognized by UNESCO. Zagyva is currently one the most active folk music bands in Hungary.
They play authentic folk music from the Carpathian Basin, but they also deal with the culture of other nationalities living in the area. They are especially solicitous for cultivating the traditions of the Galga river’s region, since the members’ family roots stem from here. In 2011, at a competition organized for violinists playing traditional Hungarian folk music, the band’s first violinist, Gellért Boda won the bronze medal. Following that, they published their first CD. In 2012, they started recording a CD-series in which they work upon the music of different ethnographic landscapes. In 2015 the members organized a live concert that is available on CD and DVD as well. They have been awarded the Prize of Excellence at the Folk Music Competition of the Hungarian Radio on several occasions.
www.heritagehouse.hu