William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2011-07-01 / 7. szám
Returns T he world famous Rajkó Orchestra offers a unique musical experience. The company is comprised of Gypsy musicians whose youthfulness and prodigiousness are reflected in the fact that all of these gifted players began their musical training at Rajko's own school at a very young age. The exceptional artistic standards of the Rajkó Orchestra grow from a concerted effort to preserve and develop the musicians' cultural heritage of improvisation, an essential ingredient to their virtuosity. William Penn Association is proud to present the 2011 North American Tour of this exceptional ensemble, Sept. 2 to 18. Included in the tour will be performances at the WPA 125th Anniversary Gala in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Sept. 3, and at the 11th Annual WPA Picnic-A Great Fraternal Fest at Scenic View in Rockwood, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 17. The theme of the tour is spelled out in its title: "Ferenc Liszt and His Beloved Gypsy Music: A Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the birth of 14 0 July 2011 0 William Penn Life Liszt." The program will include the traditional folk music which inspired the great Hungarian composer, as well as classical masterpieces and old Magyar favorites, presented in a style which can only be heard in Budapest. The touring orchestra consists of eight musicians in a line-up consistent with the classic form of a Gypsy orchestra: two lead violins (called "prímás"), a second violin, viola, cimbalom, clarinet, cello and double bass. This instrumentation allows the ensemble to replicate the sound of Gypsy music as it was heard by Liszt during the 19th and 20th centuries. The eight musicians are selected from the main Rajkó orchestra, which consists of 50 musicians. The main orchestra includes 20 members who perform with the school's youth orchestra. In addition, Rajkó maintains a number of smaller performing groups which have been equally celebrated as guests on some of the world's most prestigious stages. They are all adept at accompanying wellknown soloists and dance ensembles. The word "Rajkó" means "young Roma." Since its founding in 1952, the Rajkó school and its orchestra have specifically recruited talented young musicians with Roma backgrounds and trained them in the traditions of Central European Gypsy style music. The students also receive classical music training, shaping them into exceptional performers. The Rajkó Orchestra has enjoyed highly successful tours throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia, and the Far East where they have repeatedly excited and thrilled audiences. Recently, they were invited twice to perform at the Vatican for the Pope and at the European Congress of the of the Pastoral Care for Gypsies. They
