Mély

Rozsdamaró are, in terms of the Hungarian folk revival, relative newcomers but committed traditionalists; that is to say that they were formed a mere two decades ago but have eschewed some of the more outré world music fusions that have become popular in Hungary in the last decade or so, sticking with Magyar music. Instead, they draw on a range of material from far-flung communities in Hungary and Romania, as well as music from the Roma tradition, avidly consumed by all ethnicities.

On this recording, which concentrates on music from herding communities, they are joined by a couple of guest singers, exploring 19th-century style dance music for string band, ballads for flute and voice, the startling bagpipe solo ‘Ördögmuzsika’, the spirited ‘Búcsú’ for violin duo in an unearthly Lydian-inflected mode, and more. Interspersed with the songs and dances are soundscapes incorporating natural sung and spoken (and whistled) contributions from community elders, natural sounds, the barks, bleats and mooing of dogs and livestock, and plenty of cowbells. There is none of the borderline meretricious virtuosity that marks the work of some other ensembles in this field, just solid, confident and satisfying performance of a well-rounded variety of music.