Re: Hungarian/Romanian

[Ari Davidow <ari...>]

>I know that there has been, since the '70s, a reaction to Hungarian 
>Gypsy Music as "not folk music," etc., and it is not popular with
>younger people, but this is a unique variety of national music, which
>has been dominant for many years, and, as I said, klezmorim played a
>role in its development.  Further, although Transylvanian village 
>music is the hot thing now, there are obvious similarities between it
>and urban Gypsy music.  Romanian music has even more varieties, but
>using the Bucharest style as the benchmark seems to make the most 
>sense, since it is the type featured on most records available 
>outside the country.

My observation was not intended to denigrate the authenticity
or reasons for interest in any form of gypsy music (most of which
I love), but to point out that most people would not consider it
entirely synonymous with Hungarian music, even if played by Hungarian
Gypsies.

But, this all serves to highlight how many different traditions
mix in the areas now known as Hungary and Romania.


Ari Davidow
ari (at) ivritype(dot)com
http://www.ivritype.com/