Living tradition of the Hungarian folk string band

One of the definitive formations of the Hungarian instrumental folk music tradition is the string band.

Its origin dates back to the development of the chamber orchestra. The composition of the essentially string formation varied by region and age, however, the instruments of the basic violin-viola-bass formation are occasionally doubled; other strings or cymbal, taragot, clarinet may also be added.

As a result of the dance house movement in Hungary, the string band tradition has been given a new impetus since the 1970s. More and more, centres of musical activity and their have been visited to record and acquire their knowledge.

Collected audio-visual material and face-to-face meeting with traditional musicians are a crucial element in the transfer of knowledge. In addition, public education, music festivals, dance houses and talent competitions provide opportunities for the tradition to continue.

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