RECORDED IN HUNGARY: Csárdáses, love songs, and, folk tunes...performed by top singers and authentic gypsy orchestras.
Hungarian music has a bittersweet flavor blended of suffeerngs and high spirits, of laughter and tears, of passion and ordeal. An ancient Hungarian saying offers a better explanation of its character than any number of learned disertations; "Sirva vigad a magyar," which means, freely translated, "When a Hungarian has a good time, he weeps."
Devastated by Turk, Tartar, and Russian, subjugated for centuries by alien emperors, Hungary has nevertheless endured proudly for a thousands years. It is no wonder then that when a Magyar sings of love, of sweethearts and fighting, his exuberance is always tempered with sorrow, his joy ever softened by melancholy. Even his national dance, the csárdáses, reflects this pattern of extremes. Its tempo varies from a slow, almost motionless, rhythmic stomping to wild and furious whirling.
Hungarian music is most closely identified with gypsy orchestras. At Saturday night dances in village taverns, and at sophisticated mink-and-white tie balls in gay, pre-war Budapest, a gypsy ensemble was always present. Today, too, Hungary, the music of gypsy violins is as greatly loved as ever, for it reminds the Magyar of happier days gone by, of happier days to come. The authentic gypsy orchestra is composed of first and second violins, viola, double bass, and cimbalom. This last instrument is made of metal wires strung over a sound box and struck by light, padded hammers, similar to those in a piano. It has a range of about three octaves. The melody is always carried by the first violin alone, and the other instruments provide contrapuntal accompaniment, although the cimbalom is occasionally given a solo.
The first violinist, called the primás, is the leader and undisputed boss of the band; he gives it not only its name, but its style and form. Gypsy ensembles scarcely ever use written music - even when accompanying singers, the musicians play by ear - and many a famous primás never learned to read music. The leader dictates the tempo and sequence of tunes, he invents embellishments and flourishes, and it is his flair for improvisation that brings fame to his orchestra.
The primás performing here conduct and play in this grand tradition. Pal Kálmár and Imre Lászlo, the featured vocalists, are both outstanding interpreters of Hungarian songs.

side one, Pál Kalmár with orchestra ÖszirÓzsa, Feher ÖszirÓzsa (Aster, White Aster). This immensely popular song is by Lorand Frater, the Stephen Foster of Hungary. Although Frater died in 1930, his popularity in his native land is as great as ever today. In Aster, White Aster, the singer bemoans the swift passing of time and carefree childhood days, the loss of parents and friends. Only the asters, those white flowers of autumn, planted long ago by the loving hands of his mother, survive from the singer´s happy youth. Sándor Bura and his Orchestra Medley: HOGYHA IR MAJD, ÒDESANYAM (When You Write Me, Mother)/HOLLÓ LOVAM LÁBANYOMÁT (My Raven-Black Stallion´s Tracks) The first selection in this instrumental medley is a folk song about a homesick lad. He asks his mother for news of his village, his family and freinds, but not of his unfaithful sweetheart. The second folk tune is about an embittered wanderer who wishes to leave behind no trace of himself. He is even pleased that the tracks of his raven black stallion are slowly covered by softly fallen snow. Imre Lászlo with orchestra VOLT EGYSZER EGY GYÖNYÖRÚSZÉP ÁLMOM (Once I Had A Beautiful Dream). "...´twas a beautiful dream about a beautiful girl, of love and kisses, of happiness. We strolled hand-in-hand, our radiant faces beaming a smile that wanned the heart of everyone who looked at us. But ´twas a dream, a dream only, and I am alone in my cold and empty room ..." Pál Kalmár with orchestra Medley: IDEGEN ITT NEKEM MINDEN (I Am a Stranger Here) • EDESANYÁM IS VOLT NÉKEM (I Once Had a Mother). The first selection is a nostalgic tune by Zsigmond Bodrogi that speaks of homesickness and yearning. I Once Had a Mother tells of an orphan lad who remembers with grateful affection his mother and the loving care she gave him. Sándor Bura and his Orchestra Hedley: NINCSEN ANNYI TENGER CSILLAG AZ EGEN (There Aren´t Enough Stars in the Sky) • HAJLIK A JEGENYE (So Bends the Poplar). These two love songs are deeply rooted folk tunes performed here instrumentally. Fhe first is concerned with the countless times a love-sick young man thinks of his beloved. The well-known So lends the Poplar reminisces about secret meetings at a garden fence, underneath the swaying, whispering poplar trees. Sándor Bura and his Orchestra Medley: LAKODALOM VAN A MI UCCÁNKBAN (There´s a Wedding in Our Street) • EDESANYAM, A KENDÕM (Mother, My Lover Stole My Handkerchief) • DEBRECENBE KENE MENNI (Let´s Go to Debrecen and Buy a Turkey). All three of these colorful and lighthearted selections are csárdáses. side two Pál Kalmár with orchestra AMERRE ÉN JÁROK, MJÉG A FJÁK IS SIRNAK (Where I Walk, Even the Trees Are Weeping). This is a song of remorse by a young man who has killed his flirtatious sweetheart. As he is led, handcuffed, past his mother´s house, he grieves over the pain and humiliation he has caused her. Imre Lászlo with orchestra HOSSZU VOLT A TEGNAP ESTE (Last Night Was a Long One). In this recent song by Jenó Sándor, a love-lorn boy who has sat up all night, drinking wine and mouming over the girl he has lost, is teased and finally cheered by the ´primás, who has stayed with him through the night. Pál Kalmár with orchestra ANYAM SZIVE (My Mother´s Heart}. Almost thirty years old, this ballad is still extremely popular in Hungary. A jilted lover, whose heart lies by the roadside where his girl threw it, sees a gray-haired little old lady pick it up, kiss and caress it. He is astounded to see that the figure is the spirit of his long-deceased mother, still guarding him from loneliness and sorrow. Imre Lászlo with orchestra SZERELMES VAGYOK ÉN SZÉPASSZONY MAGÁBA (I´m in Love with You, Beautiful Lady). The song is a haunting and melodic tribute to a blue-eyed, fair-haired young woman. Pál Kalmár with orchestra AZT BESZÉLIK TEFELÓLED (They Say You´re Getting Married). Another composition by the popular Jenó Sándor, this song is a jilted lover´s farewell to his girl friend, who is about to marry a rich man. Béla Berkes and his Orchestra Medley: KIS KERTEMBEN, IGAZ-E BABÁM (In My Little Garden, Lover) • NYISD KI BABÁM AZ AJTÓT (Open the Door, Sweetheart). The concluding selections are both csárdáses. The first is an instrumental version of an old folk song. The last song, like a drop of sea water that contains all the elements of the ocean, reflects in miniature all that goes into the making of the Hungarian character: recklessness, tenderness, daring, and passionate love: "Open the door, sweetheart, for me, But softly, so the neighbors can´t hear us. Well, what of it! If they hear us, they hear us. Let the whole world know that we´re in love!"