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Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival

Catalog Data

Collection Creator:
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
Hungary is a small country in Central Europe, roughly the size of Indiana. Its population is approximately 10 million, but another 2.5 million Hungarians reside within the seven countries that surround its borders (Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia) and another 2 million Hungarians live in other parts of the world. These people speak Hungarian - known as Magyar (which is also the word that refers to a person of Hungarian ancestry). The Magyars' unique language helped them survive as a cohesive ethnic group and also to develop a distinctive identity and culture. Throughout its thousand years of history, Hungary has been a multiethnic country, drawing and incorporating new peoples and traditions. The territory has been an area of contact in Europe's geographic center, welcoming influences from all directions. The resulting culture expresses itself in a rich and diverse heritage of music, dance, costume, arts and crafts, gastronomy, speech, and even the conventions of naming (Hungarians place the family name before the given name). In the 1970s, popular interest in folk music and dance traditions was revived by the so-called táncház (dance house) movement. This urban grassroots movement reinvented the institution of the village dance in urban settings. Young people were searching for traditions that were "true" and "authentic," and their interest focused on learning dances that were varied, improvisational, and performed to live musical accompaniment. They strove to understand the original techniques, performing styles, and contexts of the dance and the accompanying vocal and instrumental music. Their teachers were remarkable personalities in rural areas of Hungary and neighboring countries who had been able to preserve these traditions in spite of twentieth-century modernization. A similar motivation to preserve traditional Hungarian handicrafts has provided a boost to a flourishing crafts revival. The táncház and the crafts revival provided refreshing alternatives to the mandated, ideologically controlled Socialist youth movement and forms of entertainment of the time. Their practices became not only an act of protest, but also a new channel for the expression of collective memory and identity. Thanks to the transmission of traditional knowledge from these "last preservers" to the succeeding generations, 2013 saw a rich repertoire and high standard of dance, musical, and crafts knowledge throughout the country. What had started as an amateur movement thus revolutionized the methods and concepts of choreographed stage performances, thereby creating new sensibilities and possibilities for both contemporary and traditional dance. Recent experiments in music, design, and fashion are reshaping the boundaries and meanings of tradition. The Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival program at the Festival demonstrated not only the diversity of these contemporary traditions, but also the worldwide significance of the Hungarian folk revival movement. Featuring highly skilled masters and apprentices from rural areas, as well as musicians, dancers, and artisans from more urban settings, the program highlighted the vitality of this culture, as well as the strength it derives from the reinterpretation of traditions. James Deutsch and Ágnes Fülemile were Program Curators and Zsuzsanna Cselényi was Program Coordinator. The Curatorial Advisory Board included: Miklós Cseri and Eszter Csonka-Takács, Hungarian Open Air Museum; László Diószegi, György Martin Folk Dance Association; Gabriella Igyártó, Festival of Folk Arts and Crafts; László Kelemen, House of Traditions; and János Tari, National Museum of Ethnography. The program was produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in partnership with the Balassi Institute, Budapest. Major support was provided by the Hungary Initiative Foundation and National Cultural Endowment of Hungary. Additional support was provided by the Hungarian American Coalition, American Hungarian Federation, Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C., Center for Humanities of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Ferenc Liszt University of Music, Hungarian National Tourist Office, William Penn Association, Hungarian American Cultural Association, City Council of Karcag, Hungarian Communion of Friends, and Tisza Ensemble Washington.
Presenters:
Ágnes Fülemile, Andrea Navratil, Bob Cohen, Boldog Anna, Csiki István, Eszter Bíró, Fruzsina Cseh, János Mihaly Tari, Judy Olson, Kálmán László, Kálmán Magyar, Kiss Réka, László Károly Diószegi, László Orbán, Laura Götzinger, Lisa Overholser, Mary Taylor, Csaba Mészáros, Pál Richter, Simon Ervin, Sivo Marta, Szilágyi Gyula, Tekla Tötszegi, Váradi Viktória, Vendégh Gábor, Veress Janka, Zoltán József Juhász, Zsuzsa Seres
Participants:
Musicians Mátyás Bolya, zither, Solymár, Hungary James Cockell, 1971-, violin, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Bob Cohen, 1956-, violin, Budapest, Hungary Anna Csizmadia, 1992-, vocalist, Budapest, Hungary Péter Deáky, French horn Elisabeta Dezső, 1950-, vocalist, Suatu, Cluj, Romania Balázs Istvánfi, 1972-, bagpipes, Zebegény, Hungary István "Dumnezeu" Jámbor, 1951-, fiddle, Ceuaș, Mureș, Romania Martin "Florin" Kodoba, 1977-, fiddle, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Andrea Navratil, 1978-, vocalist, Budapest, Hungary András Németh, 1984-, hurdy-gurdy, Pomáz, Hungary Csilla Németh, drum László Orbán, 1960-, fiddle, Sammamish, Washington István "Gázsa" Papp, 1959-, fiddle, Budapest, Hungary Bálint Schmidt, trumpet Gábor Schmidt, trumpet Jake Shulman-Ment, 1984-, violin, Brooklyn, New York Áron Székely, 1984-, viola, Brooklyn, New York Tibor Tillmann, trumpet István "Kiscsipás" Varga, 1974-, fiddle, Huedin, Romania ESZTER BÍRÓ AND BAND -- ESZTER BÍRÓ AND BANDEszter Bíró, 1977-, vocalist, Budapest, HungarySándor Födö, 1981-, percussion, Páty, HungaryMáté Hámori, 1986-, guitar, Budapest, HungaryPéter Papesch, 1973-, bass, Szentendre, HungaryNikola Parov, 1960-, clarinet, Nagykovácsi, Hungary HEVEDER -- HEVEDERGyörgy Bajna, 1977-, double bass, Gheorgheni, RomaniaAlbert Fazakas, 1985-, viola, Sfântu Gheorghe, RomaniaLevente Fazakas, 1981-, fiddle, Sfântu Gheorghe, RomaniaSzabolcs Molnár, 1978-, fiddle, Miercurea Ciuc, RomaniaLászló Szilágyi, 1981-, viola, harmonica, Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania JUHÁSZ FAMILY -- JUHÁSZ FAMILYDénes Juhász, 1986-, flute, Budapest, HungaryRéka Juhász, 1983-, vocalist, gardon, Budapest, HungaryZoltán Juhász, 1955-, bagpipes, flute, Budapest, Hungary PARNO GRASZT -- PARNO GRASZTMária Balogh, vocalist, Paszab, HungarySándor Horváth, 1974-, spoons, Paszab, HungaryJános Jakocska, 1968-, guitar, Paszab, HungaryIstván Németh, vocal, percussionJózsef Oláh, 1971-, guitar, Paszab, HungaryJános Oláh, 1972-, double bass, Paszab, HungaryKrisztián Oláh, 1992-, accordion, Paszab, HungaryViktor Oláh, 1990-, guitar, Paszab, HungaryLászló Sándor, 1968-, tour manager, Budapest, Hungary SZALONNA AND HIS BAND -- SZALONNA AND HIS BANDRóbert Doór, 1964-, bass, Gyermely, HungaryAttila Gera, 1978-, wind instruments, Nagytarcsa, HungaryTamás Gombai, 1970-, fiddle, Budapest, HungaryGyula Karacs, 1974-, viola, Veresegyház, HungaryIstván Pál, 1980-, fiddle, Budapest, HungarySándor Ürmös, 1976-, cimbalom, Budapest, Hungary Dancers Dalma Bangó, 1990-, dancer, Gödöllő, Hungary Zsófia Bartha, 1989-, dancer, Győr, Hungary István Berecz, 1987-, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Dóra Cseke-Császár, 1990-, dancer, Lenti, Hungary Péter Darabos, 1988-, dancer, Tordas, Hungary Andrea Dobi, 1973-, dancer, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Péter Ertl, 1968-, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Tamás Farkas, 1984-, dancer, Kamut, Hungary Annamária Fekete, 1995-, dancer, Gödöllő, Hungary Dezső Fitos, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Kristóf Fundák, 1985-, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Richárd Hideg, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Brigitta Horváth, 1990-, dancer, Lenti, Hungary Lili Kaszai, 1988-, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Kata Kádár, 1985-, dancer, Érd, Hungary Kata Kovács, 1990-, dancer, Győr, Hungary Zoltán Kovács, 1993-, dancer, Dunaföldvár, Hungary Dániel Légár, 1991-, dancer, Zákány, Hungary Máté Módos, 1991-, dancer, Győr, Hungary Ahmed Moussa, 1990-, dancer, Gödöllő, Hungary Zoárd Pálffy, 1986-, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Gergely Papp, dancer, Gödöllő, Hungary Máté Papp, dancer, Gödöllő, Hungary Rita Radics, 1964-, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Tünde Schnelczer, dancer, Budapest, Hungary Mariann Temkó, 1984-, dancer, Szatymaz, Hungary FASHION MODELS Bernadett Foeldi Luca Glavatity Dalma Kármán Ágnes Kerék Lili Mosonyi Communities of Tradition GYIMES (TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA) Csaba André, 1987-, dancer, Lunca de Jos, Romania Irén André, 1995-, vocalist, Lunca de Jos, Romania Lóránt Bodor, 1991-, dancer, Lunca de Jos, Romania Henrietta Simon, 1996-, fiddler, Lunca de Jos, Romania KALOCSA Éva Bagó, 1941-, machine embroiderer, Kalocsa, Hungary Erzsébet Romsics, 1941-, folk painter, Homokmégy, Hungary Mária Pandúr, 1942-, folk painter, Drágszél, Hungary Ilona Bolvári, 1940-, embroiderer, china painter, Kalocsa, Hungary Rózsa Tóth, 1963-, embroiderer, Újtelek, Hungary KARCAG György Csontos, Sr., 1953-, shepherd, cook, Karcag, Hungary György Csontos, Jr., 1976-, shepherd, cook, Karcag, Hungary Péter Csontos, 1979-, shepherd, cook, Kecskemét-Katonatelep, Hungary KISHEGYES (BÁCSKA, SERBIA) Ilona Kollár, cook, egg painter Péter Utasi, cook MÉRA (TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA) György Muszka, 1957-, dancer, Győr, Hungary Ilona Muszka, 1969-, dancer, Győr, Hungary Enikő Pálfi, 1975-, dancer, Cluj-Napoca, Romania András Tötszegi, 1957-, dancer, Mera, Baciu, Cluj, Romania Szilárd Tötszegi, 1986-, dancer, Mera, Baciu, Romania SÁRKÖZ Ágnes Komjáthi, 1958-, weaver, Szekszárd, Hungary Julianna Minorits, 1945-, beader, Őcsény, Hungary SZÉK (TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA) Klára Serestély, wool processor, weaver Zsuzsanna Zsoldos, wreath maker, weaver CRAFTSPEOPLE Zsuzsanna Angyal Csupor, 1955-, gingerbread and candle maker, Csókakő, Hungary Andrea Barcsay, 1973-, potter, folk crafts teacher, Békéscsaba, Hungary Bernadett Tenk Czefernek, 1973-, horsehair jewelry maker, Veszprém, Hungary Balázs Fodor, 1975-, leatherworker, Enying, Hungary Tibor Gáts, 1949-, instrument maker, Budapest, Hungary Zoltán Gosztonyi, 1952-, bone and horn carver, Kaposvár, Hungary György Jakab, carver, sculptor Sándor Konyári, 1963-, coppersmith, Debrecen, Hungary Gyula Mihalkó, 1949-, hat maker, Balmazújváros, Hungary József András Molnár, 1958-, folk games teacher, Budapest, Hungary Béla Nagy, 1952-, shingle and thatch roofer, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary Katalin Nagyari, 1952-, folk crafts teacher, Salomvár, Hungary Árpád Péter Román, 1978-, oven builder, Szentendre, Hungary Levente Lehel Sütő, 1954-, furniture maker, Budakeszi, Hungary Márton László Szakács, 1982-, saddle maker, Pilisszentlászló, Hungary Éva Székelyi, 1947-, basket weaver, Hévizgyörk, Hungary Gábor Miklós Szőke, sculptor Ildikó Marietta Tóth, 1962-, blue-dyer, Győr, Hungary Róbert Vágó, sculptor
Collection Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
CFCH.SFF.2013, Series 2
See more items in:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Archival Repository:
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/bk5d367acb3-5231-4503-96e7-330e9360b167
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-cfch-sff-2013-ref18