Transylvanian grunge. Jimi Hendrix on violin. The primal syncopations of Tükrös (pronounced Tuke-rersh) are almost impossible to describe. Formed in 1986, this 6 member band from Budapest has been instrumental in the revival of Hungarian village music. "There is no need to improve it," explains Tükrös' viola player Péter Árendás, "only to play it as authentically as possible. " The group's line-up of violins, violas, double bass, cimbalom (cymbal) and vocals will transport you into the village lives of the films Gadjo Dilo and Latcho Drom. Perhaps Béla Bartók described it best; "beautiful to the ear, beautiful to the eye."

Twenty to twenty five years ago, our "supporters" were often amazed; how could outstanding, stage-trained musicians, take on, what they saw as the incredibly menial task of collecting and studying village music? What a pity, they said, that someone else isn't doing this work instead; for example, someone who wouldn't be capable of doing any other music work anyway. Many who were in reality crazy, looked at our persistence as some kind of obsession. Poor things didn't have a clue, how much it meant to us be able to personally go to the villages, so that we ourselves could see, live through and hear this music which has determined the direction of our work.
Béla Bartók, About Folk Music 1931

The music they play comes from the villages of Hungary and Transylvania, and was played by Hungarians, Gypsies and Romanians for parties, weddings, funerals, christenings, army draftees and any major event occurring in a village calendar. Through the music and dance, people grew up and grew old, learning to express themselves and relate to each other. It was their way of releasing worries and stress and expressing their joy and sorrow. With the influx of modern technology, different music and media have taken the place of music and dance in a villager's life. In some areas of Hungary and throughout Transylvania, this music and tradition can still be found today, but it fast disappearing as the old musicians, dancers and singers die. Tükrös are part of a revival of village/peasant music and dance that has been happening in Hungary over the last 20 to 30 years. They have learnt the music by travelling to villages and learning not only the music, but the customs and traditions of the place, directly from the people themselves. Through their continuing contact and friendship with the village musicians, they have developed an emotional tie to the music and people, that can be heard in their playing.

THE BAND

Formed in Budapest 1986, the band has toured throughout Europe and Australia both in its own right and with various dance ensembles. They regularly play in Hungary at major traditional music festivals and events, in Táncház (dance-houses), music clubs, at parties and weddings. At festivals and music and dance camps they can always be found playing somewhere to a crowd of dancers and partiers. They released they first CD in 1996 and the second in 2000. In 2001 the band was awarded the distinction of 'Young Masters of Folk Arts'. Each Year the group presents a music and dance camp where they teach these traditions to the next generation. Tükrös are also very involved in the recording and collecting of Hungarian music from the villages of Hungary and Transylvania (Romania).

Tour Highlights

Hungary: biweekly club in Fonó Budai Zeneház. Hungarian Dance House Festival: annually since 1990. Diósgyor, Kaláka Folk Days 1998. Hajdúszoboszló, Folk Weekend: annually since 1997. Szolnok Folk Festival 1998. Tabán (Téka Ensemble is 20 years old) Budapest 1996. Egri Folk Weekend 2000.

Outside Hungary: Felvidéki Dance House Festival (Slovakia): annually since1995. Miercurea Ciuc (Romania) 2001. Strassburg 2001. Paris 2001. Slovakian Folk Festival, Kosice (Slovakia) 2001. Canberra International Folk Festival (Australia) 2000. Darmstadt (Germany) 2001. Frankfurt International Book Fair 1999. Brno (Czech Republic)1998, 1999. Tabor International Folk Festival (Czech Republic)1998. Dortmund (Germany) 1994, 1995, 1996. Workshops in Dortmund 1995, 1996. Prague Hungarian House of Culture 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994.

Tours with dance groups: Greece 1993, Italy 1992, Sweden 1991, France 1991, Sweden 1990.

Radio Recordings: 1998, 1993.

Television recordings: 1998, 1997, 1994, 1993

Discography

1996 Magyar Népzene (Hungarian Village Music)

2000 Szatmári Népzene az 1900-as évekbol (Hungarian Village Music from the 20th Century)

This album has won the golden prize of the Hungarian Artistic Academy in 2000.

Attila Halmos

FIRST VILOLINIST primás,

BAND LEADER AND VOCALIST

Attila Halmos has played violin for 21 years and is a professional musician. He learnt both from musicians in Hungary and from travelling to Transylvania, directly from the musicians there.

He teaches violin in Piliscsaba weekly, and at the Tükrös Camp once a year. He has toured with several folk dance groups (Bartók, Csepel, etc.) and different musicians throughout Europe.

"Without this music I would never have been inspired to pick up the violin."

Péter Árendás

3 AND 4 STRING VIOLA brácsa

Péter Árendás has played viola for 16 years and is a professional musician. He has toured with all the best musicians in Hungary in one band or another and with many folk dance groups (Bartók, Csepel, Bihari, etc.) In Europe, Japan and Taiwan. He is the Musical Director of the professional Budapest Dance Ensemble. He has taught folk music for 11 year in Szeged, Debrecen and also ELTE University in Budapest. He also plays with the Gázsa Ensemble and works at Fonó Music studios, Budapest recording and cataloguing bands from the villages of Hungary, Transylvania (Romania) and Slovakia.

"No matter what music you play from previous ages, you have to get to know the age. You have to know what role music played, and you have to try to understand those who used to play that music, and who used to listen to it. [That is why] I believe that the music played in villages is perfect: there is no need to improve it, only to play is as authentically as possible"

Gergely Koncz

VIOLIN hegedu AND 3 AND 4 STRING VIOLA brácsa

Gergely Koncz is a professional musician, he is the leader violinist of 'Young Hearts' Dance Ensemble (Bratislava, Slovakia). Over the years he has toured with several folk musicians from Hungary and Slovakia, and with Veszprém, Bakony, Szászorszép Folkdance groups (Hungary), Hajós, Szottes and 'Young Hearts' Folkdance Groups (Slovakia) in Europe, Canada Venezuela and Australia. He has taught in the Tükrös and Méta Music Camps, in Debrecen, and the music schools of Veszprém, Budafok and Székesfehérvár.

Endre Liber

HAMMER DULCIMER cimbalom AND 3 STRING VIOLA brácsa.

Endre Liber has played 3 string viola for 20 years and cimbalom for 14 years. He has toured with many different combinations of musicians in Europe, Japan and Taiwan. He also plays in the Gázsa ensemble and the Marton ensemble.

"Those, from who we try to learn the secrets of their music, have been passing on treasuer house of melodies and their particular style of performance from generation to generation. These melodies and this style of perfromance, coloured by the performer's personality produces a way of performing music that always reaches the heart of the listener."

Éva Korpás

VOCALIST

Éva started her career in Hungarian folklore as a dancer and singer with the Hajós dance group. She started singing professionally with the group Tükrös in 1995 and is featured on their CD Tükrös. Released by Fonó Records 1996. She has toured with the group throughout Europe, Hungary and Slovakia.

"For me the most wonderful way to express human emotions is through Hungarian folk songs and music"

András Lelkes

DOUBLE BASS bogo

András Lelkes plays both Jazz and folk music and has played bass for 14 years. He has played with many different groups in Hungary – Dr. Valter & the lawbreakers (blues) and Cifra Hungarian folk music ensemble. He has also toured throughout Europe with Tükrös and various dance ensembles.

"I like all kinds of music, but above all, this is the one that gives me the most pleasure."