The Lost Jewish Music of Transylvania [Import]

1. Hasid Wedding Dances

2. Rooster Is Crowing

3. Dance From Maramures

4. Lamenting Song

5. Ane Maamin

6. I Have Just Come From Gyu

7. Farewell To Saturday Even

8. Jewish Dance From Szaszre

9. Hat A Jid A Weibele

10. Jewish Csardas Series Fro

11. Hassid Dance

12. Greetings Of The Bride

13. Haneros Halelu

14. Farwell To The Guests

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
World Music from Hungary.

Tracks:

Khosid Wedding Dances
The Rooster Is Crowing
Dance From Maramaros
Lamenting Song
Ane Maamin
I Have Just Come From Gyula
Farewell To Shabbat
Jewish Dance From Szaszregen
Hat A Jid A Wejbele
Jewish Csardas Series From Szek
Khosid Dance
The Greeting Of The Bride
Haneros Halelu
Farewell To The Guests

Customer Reviews:

Who can improve upon perfection?.......2007-04-14

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.......2006-02-04

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!.......2006-02-02

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.......2005-05-08

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.

Maramaros IS Hungarian.......2005-04-02

I hope any semi-informed individual will disregard the comment made by "tziganul" stating that the music on this CD does not have Hungarian roots. Maramaros WAS Hungarian until WWI with about 53,000 Hungarian speakers. Please, do some research before misguiding people.
The CD is great and has wonderfully haunting melodies!

Average customer rating:

Exotic and exquisite...

The Lost Jewish Music of Transylvania
Muzsikas & Marta Sebestyen
Manufacturer: Muzsikas
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000549PJ
Release Date: 2005-05-02

Tracks:

Hasid Wedding Dances
Rooster Is Crowing
Dance From Maramures
Lamenting Song
Ane Maamin
I Have Just Come From Gyu
Farewell To Saturday Even
Jewish Dance From Szaszre
Hat A Jid A Weibele
Jewish Csardas Series Fro
Hassid Dance
Greetings Of The Bride
Haneros Halelu
Farwell To The Guests

Album Details

World Music from Hungary.

Customer Reviews:

Exotic and exquisite..........2000-08-04

A Hungarian friend introduced me to the music of Marta Sebestyen and Muzsikas 10 years ago, but I only recently heard this album of Jewish music from Transylvania. Marta's beautiful vocals are featured on just two tracks--Szol a kakas mar and the Farewell to Shabbat song--but they're both stunning, and Muzsikas' playing is skillful and full of longing. The music contains elements that will be familiar to listeners of East European folk and klezmer music, but there are some tunings and melodies that sound both ancient and very non-European. A must for fans, and a surprising treat for everyone else.