In Hungary, even if it is not immediately evident, folk culture is still alive and well in many aspects of everyday life. Almost every city and township boasts its own folk ensemble and recently many young musicians from different genres of music have turned towards folk music for inspiration. UNESCO recently added the táncház (dancehouse) method of teaching and recreation to its List of Intangible Heritage of Urgent Safeguarding.
Embroideries, decorated pottery, buildings and carving are all a part of Hungary’s rich tradition. Music ranges from the rhapsodies of Franz Liszt to folk music, folk influenced composed pieces and the music of the Romani people. Hungarian classical music has been described as an “experiment, made from Hungarian antecedents and on Hungarian soil, to create a conscious musical culture [using the] musical world of the folk song.” While the Hungarian upper class has long had cultural connections with the rest of Europe, the rural populations maintained their own traditions such that by the end of the 19th century Hungarian composers could draw on rural peasant music to (re)create a Hungarian classical style. Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, two of the most famous Hungarian composers both used folk themes in their music. They were both collectors of folk music, while Bartók collected folk songs from across Eastern Europe, including Romania and Slovakia, Kodály turned toward Hungarian folk songs, contributing to his distinctively Hungarian musical style.
Today, the main preservers of this side of Hungarian culture are the folk ensembles, who collect, interpret and present the dance, music and clothing culture of the various regions and ethnicities in Hungary and the Hungarian inhabited areas beyond our borders.
Of the many groups, musicians and ensemble three stand out for their skill, dedication and half a century long tradition in preserving folk culture. They each have their own distinctive musical and choreography styles.
The Danube Folk Ensemble
The most traditional of the ensembles in that they follow the collected works faithfully without altering or adding modern elements as the other groups sometimes do. The Ensemble’s base is the stately neo-baroque building located in Downtown Budapest, known as the Danube Palace. This was once known as the Casino of Liptovaros, it was an exclusive club providing recreation and highbrow entertainment to the famous gentlemen of the time. The Casino was for members only and excluded women. Its founder was Miksa Falk, grandfather of the actor Peter Falk. Today the Palace is still home exhibitions and the performing arts, but it is of course open to everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtfUQ5RMgUo
The Hungaria Folk Ensemble and Gypsy Orchestra
This group focuses on presenting Romani music and dance as well as those of various Hungarian regions. It’s been running a school fostering its trademark raw talent and improvisational skills for over 60 years. The Hungaria Ensemble is unique in its preservation and interpretation of Romani customs and tradition; they perform tirelessly throughout the year and are loved by audiences at home and abroad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otzHyvASPiw
The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble
This ensemble is the artistic expression of the joys, sorrows, everyday life and customs of the Hungarian people. Their home theater is the Hungarian Heritage House, a beautiful, understated eclectic building sitting just by the Danube banks in the prosperous 1st District in Buda. The Budai Vigado was built as a counterpart to the Pesti Vigado on the other side of the river.
The State Folk Ensemble serves diplomatic duties as well, often accompanying the prime minister of Hungary on his trips abroad. Founded in 1950 they are the oldest of the groups. The Ensembles all started their work during a time when Hungary was reclaiming its traditional culture after years of false, kitschy representation at home as well as abroad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfS3mt37Tbk
We are lucky to have reclaimed this part of our identity as hungary has a distinct style of its own. This country is unique in Central-eastern Europe, as are the Hungarian people themselves, who are not related to any of their neighbors. There aren’t many countries that since make such great efforts to preserve traditional culture. It is perhaps not surprising then that folk dance performances are considered a very popular attraction for visitors. However it is important to note that these are not just tourist traps, but real, valuable cultural experiences not to be missed by visitors looking for some insight into Hungarian past and present.
Article from Andrea Koroknai
Jewish Heritage Tours Of Budapest
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