Magyar News, 1997. szeptember-1998. augusztus (8. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1998-01-01 / 5. szám
HUNGARY A VIDEO HISTORY the growing power of the Ottoman Empire. In the third part we see Hungary in greatness and decline. These are the years from 1437 to 1526) One of Hungary's greatest heroes, Janos Hunyadi, led a series of campaigns to drive the Turks from the Balkans. During the reign of his son Matthias “Corvinus”, Hungary reached the zenith of her power and international standing. Matthias' brilliant court became the first center of Italian Humanism and Renaissance art north of the Alps. Royal power collapsed under the ineffectual Jagiellonian monarchs who followed Matthias to the throne. Growing inequality and the rapid deterioration of the lower classes sparked a peasant uprising in 1514 which shook the kingdom to its foundations. A greatly weakened Hungary was finally overwhelmed by the superior forces of the Turkish Sultan when its army suffered a catastrophic defeat at the fateful battle of Mohács in in the year 1526. A few weeks ago I received a letter informing me about a series of videos on Hungarian history. I immediately responded, as a matter of fact, 1 ordered them because the people and institution that participated in making the video are outstanding. The Hungarian National Museum, the National Széchényi Library, and others of similar caliber, joined by the Hungarian Television are good and trustful names. Also the Cultural Ministry in Budapest and the U. S. Department of Education took part in creating these videos. I was very impressed with the quality, image and sound included, and the fact that everything was authentic and contemporaneus. The narrator 's English was original Americanwithout any accent. The American Hungarian Heritage Association will seek out proper ways to show it to our community. Just think about it; You could learn the most important parts of your ancestors history by watching the video for an hour and cover two hundred years. (Editor) or the first time ever, a definitive video resource has been created from the combined collections of all major Hungarian museums, libraries and archives (together with footage from Austria, Croatia, Slovakia and Romania) to tell the story of Hungary's history for universities, colleges, schools, libraries, cultural organizations and homes. Each program of this eight-part series illustrates a comprehensive yet, concise narrative and the development of the country’s art, religion, architecture, literature, political institutions and economy. Special attention has been given to the complex mosaic of the historic kingdom's multi-ethnic heritage. A rich tapestry of magnificently filmed monuments depicts each period of Hungarian civilization, systematically acquainting the viewer with styles from Romanesque to Neoclassical, to 19th century masterpieces. Hungarian music through the ages is richly represented from early medieval hymns to the modem compositions of Kodály and Bartók. Over a hundred specially designed animated maps place historic Hungary's shifting fortunes in a clear geographical context. To ensure the highest standards of scholarship, internationally recognized authorities on each period have participated as script consultants. On location shooting and studio production have been done by Hungarian TV to guarantee quality. The first cassette shows Árpád’s Hungaiy. From the earliest origins to the year 1301. The migrations of the ancient Hungarian tribes are traced from their original homeland in the vicinity of the Ural Mountains to the Carpathian Basin. Following the Conquest of 895 AD, a Christian kingdom was founded by Prince Geza and his son St. Stephen at the close of the 10th century. Building on St. Stephen's achievement, a series of gifted rulers firmly established Hungary as an integral part of medieval Latin Christendom. The second cassette deals with the Golden Age of Hungary from 1301 to 1437. The 14th century witnessed a “golden age” under the reigns of the French Anjevin kings Charles Robert and his son Louis the Great. An economic boom spurred by the mining of precious metals, viticulture and cattle breeding promoted external trade and the rise of free royal cities such as Sopron, Pozsony, Kassa, and Bártfa. Under Sigismund of Luxemburg, the royal capital Buda took on new splendor. His election as Holy Roman Emperor brought closer ties with the West but Hungary's preeminent position in Southeastern Europe was challenged by the rapid expansion of the Ottoman Turks. As a bulwark of Christendom, the Hungarian kingdom defended Europe from With this we came to the end of the first three cassettes, each slightly shorter than an hour. All those who like to build their library, especially with books and recordings about their heritage should consider purchasing these videos. There has never been anything like this. They are not tourist information but still has the potential of entertainment. Your family and your friends will be amazed and you will be proud to have them see part of your Hungarian heritage. If you would like to obtain these cassettes, get in touch with: Roger Conant Presentations 7-b Brook Hill Lane Rochester, NY 14625 Phone: (716)586-1241 TUNE IN every Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 3:00 to the broadcast of the Hungarian Radio Program on WVOF 88.5 FM. You will learn about community events every week and listen to Hungarian music. For suitable announcements call Rev. Szilagyi at (203)396-0480. Page 3
