Magyar News, 1997. szeptember-1998. augusztus (8. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1997-11-01 / 3. szám
m WHEN THE STRINGS TALK TO YOU In every organization’s life there are ups and downs. This mostly depends on the number of people and also on the age group of the leaders. One of the Hungarian organizations that is in the foreground is the Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut. Generally they operate in Wallingford, taking advantage of their Hungarian Community Club. Dr. Balazs Somogyi is the driving force, once a Hungarian folk dancer, he is devoted to the dissemination of the Hungarian folk culture. These are reasons for the folk cultural events to take place in the Hungarian Community Club in Wallingford. Recently another musical folk event took place there. The Hungarian Folk Music Ensemble of New York, the ÉLETFA, went on stage. The leader of this ensemble is Kalman Magyar, Jr., an American-born who speaks Hungarian, plays many instruments, all the Hungarian ones. He is educated in music and he probably knows every Hungarian folk piece, visited Hungary many times, studied with the best, he also did Hungarian folk dancing with his mother and father, who live in New Jersey, with his sister Judith. The Életfa ensemble is a mixed group. Half were bom here, the other half in Hungary. Whichever way you look at it, you can’t tell the difference. The ensemble has a great reputation and they perform extensively throughout the U.S. Aside from the big cities, there are the Library of Congress, Governor’s Mansion, Epcot Center. Besides Kalman, the other members are Attila Papp on the bass and stick cello, Raul Rothblatt on all string instruments, then recently joined from Hungary József Gartai. 7 years, and Natalia Zagyva for 3 years. Natalia plays the violin and also sings. As it turned out she does authentic Hungarian folk dancing, too. Underlining the highlights of the event were Bandi Kocsis and Beatrix Nagy from Montreal, Canada, members of a Hungarian Dance Ensemble there who with their powerful dancing really got the audience excited. The guest musician, who is going on a tour with the Életfa Ensemble, is Janos Csik. He deserves our special mention. He lives in Kecskemet and is regarded one of the leading folk violinists in Hungary. Ten years ago he fonned his own band. Smce he received the award of “Young Master of Folk Art”, toured through Europe and in 1992 with the Jartato Ensemble of Jászberény (we remember them with warmth in our heart) he toured the States and Canada. Csik is a high quality violinist and a scholar of Hungarian music. He extensively studied the authentic playing styles found in Hungary and Transylvania. The delicate performance of his playing not only amazes the audience, but grabs them by their soul. One doesn’t have to be Hungarian to get under his spell. One is emerges into the sounds. It’s like a different world, a world that we somehow identify. It takes on an extra dimension, it’s not just music, his violin talks to you. His body language goes along with the songs. His motions are not just playing the violin, they live the music. Many times as his feet were working the rhythm one could notice that he gets airborne. Sitting in the front in the audience, I was pnvileged to hear the singers, but 1 guess that further back people lacked the full joy. I know that there is nothing nicer than the unaltered, natural performance of folk music, but situations could be utilized better with a suitable amplification. It is like fresh air, listening to the music of Hungarian hentage, specially in a world where there is a confusion of sounds bad and worse, and lyrics that take away from our human dignity. We always look forward to these folk music events that take place in Wallingford. *}*}**}***}*} I would also like to mention a big event that is coming up in February. The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra is having three performances on the 20th and 21st. The Okros Folk Music Ensemble will be part of the program featuring as soloists Sándor Fodor (Neti) on violin and Kalman Balogh, cimbalom virtuoso. The music pieces selected are Hary Janos Suite by Zoltán Kodály, Brahms Hungarian Dances, pieces by György Ligeti and Bela Bartók. A Hungarian bom, internationally acclaimed pianist, Peter Pertis, will give a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. The second part of the concert will be pieces from Kodály, Bartók and Liszt. It will take place Wednesday, November 5 at 8:00 PM. This concert is a presentation of the American Hungarian Folklore Centrum in New Jersey. Peter Pertis now resides in West Hartford, Conn. Please make note of all the upcoming musical events. Invite your music loving friends to the outstanding perjormances. J. F B. Enjoy great home cooking in a warm jam ily atmosphere at jkrl of lukpest Hungarian and Viennese Cuisine Daily 3-Course Dinner specials Reservations accepted for 4 or more Delicious Hungarian Wines from Open for lunch and dinner 12-2 and 5-9 Tuesday - Saturday. Sunday 5-9 pm. Live Music Every Night In the Galleria Building 57 Unquowa Road * Fairfield Telephone: (203)259-4777 creativity by ... the flower box ltd ‘Bernadette ‘K^fiaimiJTerasozuicfi Beszélünk magyarul Phone:(203)261-3332 906 UJhite Plains Road Trumbull, CT 06611
