Egyszólam-Kalamajka: Megütik a dobot / When drums are beaten
ER-CD 048
The aim of this CD is to make the rich and diverse music of the Hungarian War of Independence in 1848-49 more well-known. The selection is based on period manuscripts, collections and on compilations by prominenent Hungarian historians, and also on the bands' own collections.
The songs on the album try to illustrate the most different strata of vocal and instrumental music from that age, ranging from the most archaic tunes and perfoming, up to the freshest, partly folklorised songs dating from that period.
The history of a nation can most precisely be known from the existing writings of chroniclers and from the results of historical science. Nevertheless, the historical conciousness of the masses and also the collective memory (which is a particular projection of the former) bear considerable significance. It is also well-known that historical knowledge has been transmitted to the people by mainly folk channels from the earliest times, although -- to some extent -- always related to the "official" history taught in scholls. A retrospective view on the outstanding events and figures of history will show that the richest material in folklore is associated with revolution and the war of independence. This is partly due to the fact that the collective memory, which is able to span some generations has not forgotten them. On the other hand the time distance is big enough for the period works of art or earlier works recomposed by the people, as well as pieces of well-known poets and composers to polish to more perfection in the process of bequest. Amongst the heroes of the independence war Lajos Kossuth is the central figure in folk tradition. Reaching almost mythical heights, the cult of Kossuth has had an impact on the whole nation. Other prominent historical figures are much less referred to in these songs, except for Görgey, whose exceeding condemnation and stigmatisation especially contributed to Kossuth's glorification. The goal of this CD would be to make this exuberantly rich and diverse musical material more well-known. We also hope that the receiver will get a fresh lookn at this repertoire which he might have found squeezed dry while studying at school. The selection is based on period manuscripts, collections, the compilations of Gyula Káldi, Lajos Kármány, István Volly, Károly Mathia, Linda Dégh, Gyula Ortutay, Imre Katona, on the national collection from 1848-49, special bibliography on folk music and ethnography and also our own instrumental music from the period of the independence war, from the pieces of most archaic melody and performance, yet actualised lyrics to the most fresh, partly folklorised songs belonging to that period.
Katalin Juhász