Transylvania Country Maramaros: The Lost Jewish Music of Transylvania I enjoy this album totally. It brings feelings of country fiddlers as well as classical violin music to me.
Who can improve upon perfection? I refer mainly to the technique and musicality of the players. The atonality, the nuances, the striking of the bows stay with me.I feel a sense of place and close to the music through this impeccable recording. I look forward to sending this CD to some of my friends . One small change I would have made though, I would have concluded it on a livelier note. Actually not... I agree, bitter sweet.
a pleasant surprise Little I can add the the excellent reviews already offered here below. One thing, There are two vocal performances. I have the lyrics to Rooster Is Crowing, but the other I do not. Although it is apparently in Hebrew, the pronunciation is so idiosyncratic I can't make out the words, nor can any of my Jewish friends, including one who is Israeli. The problem could be Ms. Sebestye'n but I doubt it. Her teacher is perhaps not Jewish, or else this is correctly pronounced but in a very distinctive and strong Transylvanian accent. In any case I need help. If the text is taken from a prayer, you could simply refer me as I read Hebrew just fine. Otherwise I would appreciate any help. The performance is so wonderful I really would like to know what she is singing. By the way I can certainly show my appreciation in like fashion. I have lyrics to all Muzsikas recordings in Hungarian and to most in English as well and would be glad to share.
One of my favorites! This is one of my favorite Jewish music albums! I'd absolutely recommend it, I think the price I paid for it at Amazon was great too!
As far as some of the reviews concerned ("Red granite", "Tziganul") about whether this music has some Hungarian or Romanian influence I have something to say from my personal experience. I've lived with a Jewish family for 2 years (I was a Nanny) in England and got to like Jewish music a lot, that's why I bought this album and it brings back good memories too.
The Family (from the Mothers side) came from Transylvania and speak Hungarian. I also have relatives living in M?ramaros who are Hungarians. Also, Transylvania belonged to Hungarians (Magyarok) from 895. ...and even before, from 380(Huns). So I just cannot imagine not to have any Hungarian influence on this music.
On the other hand, along the years many people of different nationalites settled down in Hungary (therefore to Transylvania too). Of course, before Hungarians and the Huns settled in todays Hungary, territories were rarely populated (and back then weren't countries only tribes and tribes did move around). Again, Slavic people say that it is not true because Slavic people largely populated that territory. Then, Romanians say that they were living at that territory as the descendants of the Romans. We, Hungarians say that they didn't, Romanians used to live elswhere.
As far as who Transylvania belonged to on the first place and who the minority and majority (Hungarians vs. Romanians) when after WWII Transylvania has been taken from Hungary and was given to Romania are hard telling now. We, Hungarians say Romanians were the minority and Hungarians the majority and we have evidence of it. Of course Romanians say it the other way around.. But who knows the truth? We cannot go back in time and detect the truth, unfortutely...but this is another subject already which seams like a never ending controversy. In my humble opinion, the best solution would be if Transylvania wouldn't belong to anybody. It'd have autonomy.
So that's said, We all know there are so many nationalites that have lived (many of them assimilated already or fluorished) or still living in Transylvania; cultures being so close to one another are going to have an impact on each other in music and in many other ways too.
A comment Both of the previous reviewers have said some true and some false statements.
Regarding what Cinkapanna said: Yes, the word "Maramaros" is Hungarian, but not the region which it designates, which is, and was inhabited by Romanians. Although under Hungarian military and political rule until WW1, Maramures (NW part of Transylvania), was inhabited by Romanians for the most part. Nowadays there are some 72% Romanians and 20% Hungarians in Maramures. The figures were largely similar immediately after WW1, according to censuses of that time. Being said that, it is no wonder that there _are_ undeniable Romanian music influences here. And no, the music does not have Hungarian roots, it has of course Jewish roots, and Romanian influences. I can't tell, however, if it also contains some Hungarian elements.
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
