Népszerű nóták és csárdások

Curatorial Note

Issued by Qualiton in 1968, this LP presents archival recordings of Id. Magyari Imre (Imre Magyari the Elder) and his ensemble, representatives of Hungary’s professional Roma cigányzene tradition. The program consists primarily of magyarnóta and csárdás repertory performed in the highly ornamented instrumental style cultivated by Roma bands in urban restaurants, cafés, concert settings and broadcasting. Although the English sleeve title reads Hungarian Folk Songs, the repertory should not be confused with Hungarian peasant folk music: magyarnóta is a composed popular-song tradition whose performance history became closely associated with professional Roma musicians. The album therefore documents the central role of Roma ensembles in shaping one of the most internationally recognizable forms of twentieth-century Hungarian popular musical culture.