Marta Sebestyen on Radio 4

[johncorrigan]

By chance this afternoon I caught a terrific programme on Radio 4 by Alan Hall entitled ' Voices of....Marta Sebestyen', with Marta talking about her life and the folk traditions of Hungary and beyond. Great songs throughout and she was a terrific subject...what a voice!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vq2c2

[gurnemanz]

I heard that programme. We have always enjoyed Hungarian folk music and went to see the folk group Muzsikas at our local Music Centre a few years ago. They gave a very good introductory talk demonstrating instruments and technique. Marta Sebestyen wasn't there that night but often performs with them and is on the double "best of" CD, Fly Bird, Fly, we bought that night - unavailable it seems

[Bryn]

I heard that programme. We have always enjoyed Hungarian folk music and went to see the folk group Muzsikas at our local Music Centre a few years ago. They gave a very good introductory talk demonstrating instruments and technique. Marta Sebestyen wasn't there that night but often performs with them and is on the double "best of" CD, Fly Bird, Fly, we bought that night - unavailable it seems

If at first you don't succeed, https://www.amazon.de/FLY-BIRD-VERY-.../dp/B005T5O8SG

[Globaltruth]

By chance this afternoon I caught a terrific programme on Radio 4 by Alan Hall entitled ' Voices of....Marta Sebestyen', with Marta talking about her life and the folk traditions of Hungary and beyond. Great songs throughout and she was a terrific subject...what a voice!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vq2c2

thanks for the recommend, quite a lot of their work collectively and individually Spotify too JC
For example:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6QEwS7vsHtFQtojOzPirwo

[Bryn]

I only have one CD featuring Marta Sebestyen:



I found it in a charity shop for £1, being attracted by the album's title and the presence of Cornelius Cardew's old friend Alex Balanescu.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I only have one CD featuring Marta Sebestyen:



I found it in a charity shop for £1, being attracted by the album's title and the presence of Cornelius Cardew's old friend Alex Balanescu.

Hope you felt it was worth your quid Bryn!

It's one of my favourite Bartok, and favourite folk, albums. Particularly revealing is the way one senses Bartok's total desolation at having his roots torn out when forced to leave Hungary.

Come to think of it, the artists must owe me a bit for the number of albums bought by friends as a result of my inflictions

[Bryn]

Hope you felt it was worth your quid Bryn!

It's one of my favourite Bartok, and favourite folk, albums. Particularly revealing is the way one senses Bartok's total desolation at having his roots torn out when forced to leave Hungary.

Come to think of it, the artists must owe me a bit for the number of albums bought by friends as a result of my inflictions

Oh yes, a chance find of a real treasure.

[gurnemanz]

We heard a band at a folk evening down on Lake Balaton. Although over 40 years ago, I have vivid memories of hearing the exhilarating sound of the cimbalom for the first time and the clarinet (shawm?) used as a folk instrument.

[LeMartinPecheur]

...the exhilarating sound of the cimbalom for the first time and the clarinet (shawm?) used as a folk instrument.

Possibly a tarogato?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A1rogat%C3%B3

I met one a few summers ago when the Dante Quartet brought over a Hungarian folk band to their Cornwall festival. Despite Wiki's mentions of shawms that suggests something far too strident. I think it's more like a baritone clarinet, slightly deeper and more mellow in tone than the standard orchestral clarinet, never shrill. (Perhaps always played in chalumeau register, if a tarogato has such a thing??)Think it employs a clarinet mouthpiece.

[Lat-Literal]

By chance this afternoon I caught a terrific programme on Radio 4 by Alan Hall entitled ' Voices of....Marta Sebestyen', with Marta talking about her life and the folk traditions of Hungary and beyond. Great songs throughout and she was a terrific subject...what a voice!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07vq2c2

I have just caught up with this programme.

Very good - I love her voice.

I only have one CD featuring Marta Sebestyen:



I found it in a charity shop for £1, being attracted by the album's title and the presence of Cornelius Cardew's old friend Alex Balanescu.

Fascinating - thank you for highlighting this CD, Bryn.

thanks for the recommend, quite a lot of their work collectively and individually Spotify too JC
For example:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6QEwS7vsHtFQtojOzPirwo

Thanks too GT - I believe that after a largely second hand autumn splurge, this will be The New Winter of Spotify.

And thanks to everyone else for interesting comments - a good thread!