The Hungarian musical mother tongue

This event portrays Béla Bartók from a highly decisive perspective as far as his career as a music composer is concerned: it approaches his lifework from the viewpoint of folk music.

As for Bartók’s lifework, the relationship between his art and folk music is often discussed and there are also ample opportunities to learn about Bartók’s music. However, the folk music that lies behind Bartók’s works is not known as thoroughly as would be necessary for the full exploration and understanding of this very relationship.

Apart from staging Bartók’s compositions or certain parts of such works, the program offers an insight into the folk music pieces that served as sources for Bartók’s music. In addition, the presentation of such pieces at this concert will recreate their contemporary presentation: the audience will be able to listen to these pieces very much like the way Bartók himself may have discovered them.

Jánosi Ensemble is one of the founders of the Hungarian dance house movement. 

The Ensemble’s breakthrough success was marked by a theatrical concert performance in the scope of which the folk music sources of Bartók’s folk music themed compositions were staged. The concert, which was preceded by many years of careful research work, was received with high acclaim and enthusiasm on the part of both the audience and critics. The continued interest in this show is proved by the fact this performance has been staged in several versions not only in Hungary but also abroad since its first night in 1981.

The concert portrays Béla Bartók from a highly decisive perspective as far as his career as a music composer is concerned: it approaches his lifework from the viewpoint of folk music. As for Bartók’s lifework, the relationship between his art and folk music is often discussed and there are also ample opportunities to learn about Bartók’s music. However, the folk music that lies behind Bartók’s works is not known as thoroughly as would be necessary for the full exploration and understanding of this very relationship.

Apart from staging Bartók’s compositions or certain parts of such works, the program offers an insight into the folk music pieces that served as sources for Bartók’s music. In addition, the presentation of such pieces at this concert will recreate their contemporary presentation: the audience will be able to listen to these pieces very much like the way Bartók himself may have discovered them.

The event is made complete by the recitation of excerpts from Bartók’s writings and letters.

Organizer: Hungarian Academy of Arts

Registration: from 21st August 2018!