In the 1970s, young Hungarian musicians began to turn to the folk music of their homeland for inspiration, and as traditional Transylvanian dance houses sprang up in the cities, the music these young traditionalists made revealed a deeper, older style in contrast to the romantic "Puszta-Gypsy" music then associated with Hungary. The group Meta, founded in 1983, is a fine example of this Hungarian neo-folk movement. Featuring songs and dance reels from many different regions of the country, all played on traditional ...
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In the 1970s, young Hungarian musicians began to turn to the folk music of their homeland for inspiration, and as traditional Transylvanian dance houses sprang up in the cities, the music these young traditionalists made revealed a deeper, older style in contrast to the romantic "Puszta-Gypsy" music then associated with Hungary. The group Meta, founded in 1983, is a fine example of this Hungarian neo-folk movement. Featuring songs and dance reels from many different regions of the country, all played on traditional instruments, this collection is impressive in its variety and scope. Of particular interest is "Szabad madar vagy te, rozsam" (You Are a Free Bird, My Love), which illustrates the Hungarian custom of repeating short songs, each time with a new melody, over a steady rhythmic base. The concluding track, "Variaciok" (Variations), shows a fine traditional string band in full swing on short, improvised dance tunes. Recommended for anyone interested in traditional music from this region. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi
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