Fraternity-Testvériség, 1986 (64. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1986-04-01 / 2. szám
Page 10 TESTVÉRISÉG TRAVEL - WITH THE KANTUS Arrival We started our travel together — the Kantus and I, on Monday, March 24th. I had offered my companionship as ‘guide’ — I felt I had become a friend! For fifteen days we traveled together, over 3,000 miles, west to Michigan, south to Washington and north to Hamilton, Ontario. Over 15,000 people met and heard them in the concert halls. I heard them there and in the ‘home setting’ of the long bus ride. All the days were filled with music.... We first met at the JFK International Airport, NYC. The plane had arrived late from Amsterdam and it took over two hours to pass through customs. But when we were finally all together, the Kantus gave thanks by singing — right there in the Arrivals Building lobby — a hymn of thanksgiving and a folk song of greeting to the host of the household. This scene was to be repeated; at every church they entered, they sang a Psalm; after every delicious meal, they showed their appreciation with song; when we parted it was with song! Even Buddy Cooper, the bus driver, joined in the singing. Buddy is a blue-grass, gospel singer, who purchased a guitar on the road so that he could sing, too. He sang for the Kantus at rest stops and whenever there were minutes to spare, often the group joined with him. On our trip from Princeton to Washington, in order to arrive in time, Buddy extended the speed limit and received a ticket. Upon hearing the explanation of what had happened and the amount of the fine, Feher Csaba announced that if each person gave $1, the fine would be paid for and Buddy would not have to pay out of his pocket. “Szavazzunk — let’s take a vote” — the motion was made, the vote taken, motion carried unanimously, and the $40 given to Buddy — who accepted it only with the understanding that next time he pays. (There was no next time.) The Kantus members practiced their English by talking with Buddy. He was an excellent driver for the Arrow Bus Company. Just the other day I heard from him — he is planning to take a trip to Debrecen — he wants to hear his favorite piece, Shenandoah, sung as only the Kantus can! First and foremost, before sightseeing in NYC, the young people wanted to go to the grave site of Bela Bartók which is just north of the city. They sang and placed a small Hungarian flag along with the plants at the plague. The next important stop was the Kossuth statue on Riverside Drive. (We also stopped at the Kossuth statue in Cleveland.) and March 15, 1848 was remembered. Only then did we turn our attention to the sights of the city. At Kossuth Statue, New York City
