Szeretnék május éjszakákon

Curatorial Note

Instrumental recording by Hungarian Roma violinist and prímás Sándor Déki Lakatos and his ensemble, released by LaMarTi in 1997. The album documents the professional Hungarian Roma orchestral tradition commonly associated with cigányzene, combining magyar nóta, csárdás, virtuosic dance pieces, medleys, and violin-centered repertoire. Déki Lakatos belonged to a multigenerational Roma musical dynasty and led his own ensemble from the 1960s onward, performing extensively in Budapest’s hotel and restaurant circuit as well as internationally. The recording is significant as a late twentieth-century commercial document of a professional Roma musical tradition that became closely associated with representations of Hungarian national music, while remaining distinct from Romani folk repertories. Its English presentation, “Happy Gypsies from Hungary,” also reflects the international marketing language historically used for Hungarian Roma ensembles.