“I am convinced that each of our folk melodies is a veritable example of the highest level or artistic perfection. I regard them in miniature as equivalent masterpieces to Bach fugues or Mozart sonatas. Among other things, we can learn from their peerless concentration of expression, the strict avoidance of all but the essential… How can our only musical tradition, ancient Hungarian peasant music become the basis for the creation of a new Hungarian music? … If a composer has enough love to freely surrender themselves with all their souls to this music, if they have something to say, and are perfectly equipped with the necessary technical skills to express their thoughts, then they will succeed.” Béla Bartók’s words will receive perfect confirmation at this concert. For Bartók, folk music was a “pure source” from which music fed and which pollinated his creative genius. While he created a new musical language for the modern music of our time he used melodies, melodic figures, harmonies and rhythms which he encountered on his folk music collecting trips. In this concert we shall hear instrumental music performed by the Muzsikás Group. Bartók’s piano works will be performed by Jenő Jandó. They will be helping and augmenting each other, giving the audience an insight into modern and ancient music and even the music of today which feeds from it.

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