Borsodi Levéltári Évkönyv 1. (Miskolc, 1977)

Angol nyelvű tartalmi kivonatok

The preface points out that Alexy is a typical average man as for his position and career, so his diary notes presumably truly reflect the ideas and attitudes of the society bringing up and surrounding him, and in connection with this the preface underlines the great significance of the trading bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie of the non-free royal town concerning the social basis of the development of the bourgeoisie in Hungary and the new generation of the intelligentsia. Further on the preface points out some characteristic features of this layer which also appeared in the character of the diarist, sometimes in an exaggerated form: first of all the features such as the composedness needed by the social and intellectual development, concentration in manners, aversion and unconcern towards nobility, strong democratic behaviour, humanist-philantropic religiousness, which had already broken with dogmatic religions, even the wide cosmopolitism, which diametrically opposed to the general attitude of this class, was left cold with the Hungarian war of independence evolving just then.

Finally the preface shows the importance of the bourgeoisie and the urbane atmosphere in Miskolc, which was specific but at the same time expecially suitable for bringing features of social importance to the surface.

The part of the ironworkers’ singing circle in Diósgyőr - Vasgyár in the education of workers

Mrs. Gábor Varga

The treatise recites the history of the Ironworkers’ Singing Circle in Diósgyőr— Vasgyár which had a great part in the past and was well-known to the workers’ choral art all over the country and it seeks to keep the memory of its activity alive.

The Ironworkers’ Singing Circle was set up within the scope of the ironworkers’ trade union in 1925. Shortly after its being formed the police of the Horthy-regime forced it to be silent.

In 1927 it recommenced its work and in spite of police arbitrariness it had developed such choral art which had resulted in the complimentary title of the best country workers’ choir.

Its artistic educational work had a great effect on the education of the working masses because it mingled love for art with continuous studying, discipline and political struggle.

Through the history of the Ironworkers’ Singing Circle in Diósgyőr—Vasgyár we can get acquainted with the cultural life of this industrial establishment which has had a great part in the economic life of our country, as well as famous choirs formed in the last decade of the 19th century and all the same excelled by the Ironworkers’ Singing Circle, and the orchestra of Vasgyár. We are offered a brief survey of both Hungarian and international movements of workers’ choirs.

The famous Ironworkers’ Singing Circle, at first conducted by Ferenc Nagy who had lost his job as a teacher because of his political views later by József Gránát who headed the circle for twenty years and was known all over the country, forms a part of the struggle for the education of working people and it belongs to our tradition worthy of esteem.

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