Muzsikás

Muzsikás is a Hungarian musical group playing mainly folk music of Hungary and other countries and peoples of the region. Established in 1973, it has also played works by classical composers, especially Béla Bartók, who himself collected folk tunes. The group has recorded other albums and, since 1978, has toured regularly around the world.

The group's collaboration with the noted singer Márta Sebestyén has produced a string of highly regarded recordings.

Members

The group's core members are:

• Mihály Sipos - violin, citera
• László Porteleki - violin, koboz, vocal
• Péter Éri - kontra, viola, mandolin, flute, long flute
• Dániel Hamar - contrabass, gardon, drum, cymbal

Permanent guests are:

• Márta Sebestyén - vocal, flute, tilinko
• Zoltán Farkas – choreography, dance, percussion
• Ildikó Tóth - choreography, dance

The group also plays regularly with a range of other musicians and groups.

Discography

Albums

• Living Hungarian Folk Music I. MUZSIKÁS (Hungaroton Gong)
• Márta Sebestyén and Muzsikás (Hannibal/Ryko), 1991
• The Prisoner's Song (Hannibal/Ryko), 1991
• Blues for Transylvania (Hannibal/Ryko), 1991
• Maramaros, the Lost Jewish Music (Hannibal/Ryko), 1993
• Muzsikás Kettő (Munich Records), 1995
• It is not like it used to be (Hungaroton Gong), 2001
• Morning Star (Hannibal/Ryko), 2003
• The Bartók Album (Hannibal/Ryko), 2004
• Live at the Liszt Academy (Muzsikás)

Compilations

• Fly Bird, Fly - The very best of Muzsikás (Demon Music Group Ltd), 2011

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to World Music (World Music Network, 1994)

Trivia

Three of their songs are famously used in the anime "Only Yesterday" by Studio Ghibli: "Teremtés" ("Creation"), "Hajnali nóta" ("Morning Song"), and "Fuvom az énekem" ("I Sing My Song"). The name of the group is mentioned by the main protagonists, while the songs play in the background, in a prolonged dialog about the benefits of a natural environment and rural life.

External links

• Muzsikás official website
• interview with Dániel Hamar of Muzsikás