More about the band:

Hagyományőrzés szépszerével - Tradition keeping with the method of the "Szépszerével"

We are an ensemble of two musicians playing traditional Csángó Hungarian music. Our music comes from the middle of Europe, from the outer side of the eastern mountain range of the Carpathians.

Our principle and goal is to use this ancient root and to make it flourish in the framework of our renewed world, in the cities and in the countryside, where our musician-dance events allow our guests to meet and get to know each other in a very unique way, feeling the pure charm and the vital pulsation of the former village atmosphere.

We would like to further deepen our relations with traditional and respectful groups and individuals who know from experience the greatness, joy, relaxation and inspiring effect of Csángó dance music. We would also like to share the experience of our dance with those who are new to the world of dance, those who pass by, stop to listen, drop in, with whom our path temporarily crosses, so that they may share, even if only in the form of an opportunity, the same wonderful beauty that has captivated us.

The meaning of our tradition for the man of today

Proximity

On the one hand, it is close to our hearts because of its origins, but also because of its originality, because it is a local heritage, the music and dance of its people, the personal feelings of our ancestors, which they have handed down to us in a package, so that we can open it up and become involved in it, so that we can unfold it from our hearts; on the other hand, we can look into each other's eyes as we dance together and connect with the musician who drags us under his feet as he plays. It is like the warmth of a dance party in the winter cold, a summer campfire under a starry blue sky.

Memory

The way of life of our elders has something to say to us. They were part of the nature around them, as they were part of each other, they were brave, honest and their souls were not lacking in devout prayer. Their view of time was determined by the natural rhythm of their agriculture, just as they naturally adapted to their church festivals: it was important for them to observe the course of the sun, the changing of the days and seasons. Joy and sorrow accompanied their journeys, birth and death, marriage, family, friends and the difficulties of everyday life and work. They captured all this in their art: in song, music, dance and material culture and customs. We can learn from them, use them as part of our lives, as they did, as we try to cope with the ups and downs of our daily lives.

Ethnic aspects, culture

It is not uncommon for people of different origins and traditions to live side by side, settling close to each other, and their customs seem to be closer to each other. Where there is mutual enrichment of these customs in peace, we can learn a lot as human beings: a lasting peace of being on the one hand, but also harmony with each other, with ourselves. All this is an integral part of our folk tradition, if we can read it: we can observe it especially in the encounters of many peoples and nationalities, such as the Csángó and their neighbours. The history of all nations is rich in such precious phenomena. Let us hope that we can investigate and, like a treasure trove, mine these values to make them the cornerstones of our lives, our health and the joy of our hearts.

I consider myself and my fellow musicians to be simple musicians, yet gatekeepers who can open the doors of our folk culture through folk music to those who seek admission. We wish that as many as possible may be filled with the life-giving source of our folk traditions.

Farkas Gyulai

Budapest, January 2020

/Deepl translation/