UMS Concert Program, January 31, 1990: Hungarian State Folk Ensemble --

Season: 111th
Concert: Twentieth
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

THE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Hungarian State Folk Ensemble
SANDOR TIMAR, Artistic Director
Wednesday Evening, January 31, 1990, at 8:00 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
All choreography is by Sdndor Timdr.
Dances of Kalocsa (Tamas Daroci Bardos)
Kolocsa is in the middle of the Great Hungarian Plain, next to the Danube River. It is famous for its national costumes and embroidery and is a major producer of paprika. Its colorful folklore is maintained and performed extensively today in various celebrations.
Wide Is The Danube (Lajos Bardos) Wandering (Bela Bartok) Gypsies Eat Curd (Zoltan Kodaly)
The Chorus
Dances of Kalotaszeg
The Transylvanian Kalotaszeg is a region encompassing more than 50 small villages. It is famous for its richly decorated costumes and especially for its male dancers. In this Dance of the Lads, the boys compete with each other for the title of best dancer. The competition is followed by a couple dance.
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Franz Liszt)
The Orchestra
Czardas from Tyukod
A merry and happy rivalry in dance by two boys and a girl.
Dances from Zemplen (Tamas Daroci Bardos)
One of the most archaic dance forms in Hungarian dance culture, the girls perform a circle
dance, singing mostly about love, courtship, and young men. The men later join them, dancing
the verbunk (recruiting dance) and the czardas with spurs on their boots, to give a dynamic
rhythm.
INTERMISSION
For the convenience of our patrons, the box office in the outer lobby will be open during intermission for purchase of tickets to upcoming Musical Society concerts.
Cameras and recording devices are not allowed in the auditorium. Halls Cough Tablets, courtesy of Warner Lambert Company, are available in the lobby.
Twentieth Concert of the 111 th Season Nineteenth Annual Choice Series
Dances of Sovidek (Laszlo Berki)
A part of Transylvania between Kis-Kiikullo and Korond is called Sovidek (Land of Salt), famous for its salt mines. Even today, the people of Sovidek dance the Syekely verbunk (recruiting dance) and the czardas, among other dances of the region.
Dances of Udvarhely (Laszlo Lajtha)
The Orchestra
Dances of Rabakoz (Tamas Daroci Bardos)
A happy gathering of young lads, while dancing and singing naughty songs.
Bottle Dance of Tolna
In many of the Transdanubian villages, women carry baskets, bottles, etc., on their heads.
In exhibiting their skill, they often put bottles of wine on their heads while dancing.
Clapping Dance of Mehkerek
Romanians live in this region of Hungary, and their young men's dance is similar to that of the
Hungarians. Clapping and the use of spurs give a unique character and rhythm to this dance.
Kallai Kettos (Zoltan Kodaly)
The Chorus accompanied by The Orchestra
Dances from Szatmar (Laszlo Berki)
In this region of northwest Hungary are found the most beautiful examples of the newer style of Hungarian dancing. The widely performed recruiting dances (verbunks) and the czardas are mixed with the art of improvisation. Here, the dancers often create their own steps. The fast finale brings the program to an exciting finish.
A message from Sdndor Timdr . . .
"I believe in the art of the nations of people and the independent expressive power of folk dance and folk music. This form of art that you see is very near to the folk culture of other nations living within the Carpathian mountains, where Hungary is also situated, and where, during the centuries, the transformation of history unified us in this respect. With this heritage, I am able to express all thoughts that I feel. I believe that there is no choice but to use the original, authentic character of our Hungarian culture of dance, song, and music, and I hope that this will result in adding a modest contribution to the culture of dance in the world."
About the Artists
Sandor Timar was born in Szolnok, in Eastern Hungary, in 1930. He started dancing in grammar school and devoted his energies to learning everything possible about his art. In 1951, he became a professional dancer in the Trade Union Folk Ensemble and later organized his own company, the Bartok Ensemble, which gained wide fame not only in Hungary but in many other countries. Further education at the College of Dramatic and Cinematic Art gave him the foundation for his choreographic talent, which is considered one of the foremost in Hungary.
Since 1971, Sandor Timar has been director of the State Ballet Institute in the area of folk dance, and in 1981, he was appointed artistic director of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble. In this position, he is responsible for selecting the best dancers, singers, and folk musicians from the many hundreds who apply for acceptance in the 100-membcr company. The esteemed director has won numerous prizes and awards at competitions and festivals in Hungary and abroad, making his name a famous one among folk dance enthusiasts throughout the world. He has been decorated with the highly valued "Erkel Prize," in recognition of his choreographic work.
The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is now visiting North America for its fourth tour, and tonight makes its third Ann Arbor appearance (previous concerts were in 1984 and 1987). The company is playing in many major cities coast to coast and at colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. In 1966, the former Hungarian State Folk Ensemble also toured America, but since the death of then-director Miklos Rabai, the company has been completely reorganized under the artistic direction of Sandor Timar.
The folk music that inspired Bela Bartolc, Zoltan Kodaly, and Franz Liszt provides the foundation for the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble's panorama of dancing, costumes, choral singing, and the Hungarian folk and Gypsy melodies. Hungarian folk music is often associated with that of the Hungarian Gypsy, and much of this type of music was written in the last century and made famous by many Gypsy orchestras. In addition, however, Hungarians in isolated villages have introduced their own exciting folk music into the current culture, with many of the dances originated for special functions in their everyday lives -courtships, weddings, and various other occasions.
Throughout the world, Hungarian folk culture is studied and practiced by folk groups of all nations who are interested in the traditions of other nations as well as their own. In America, hundreds of Hungarian societies keep alive the traditions of their native folklore.
Laszlo Berki, Orchestra Conductor Pal Kakuk, Dance Leader Andras Feher, Chorus Conductor Margit Kascsak, Costume Designer Sandor Serfozo, General Director
The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is represented by Columbia Artists Management Inc.; all tour arrangements made by CAMl Tour Department, Robert Franz, Director.
"Desert Island Discs" -A New Program on Michigan Radio
Co-produced by the University Musical Society and Michigan Radio, "Desert Island Discs" is heard every Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 10 a.m., each program featuring a distinguished local "castaway" guest who is asked, "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five recordings would you like to have with you and (perhaps most revealingly) why" Feb. 3 -Dcanna Relyea, Director, Kerrytown Concert House Feb. 10 --James Dapogny, Jazz Pianist and U-M Professor of Music Feb. 17 --Philip H. Power, U-M Regent WUOM-FM (91.7, Ann Arbor), WFUM-FM (91.1, Flint), WVGR-FM (104.1, Grand Rapids)
Pre-concert Presentations
All presentations free of charge, in the Rackham Building one hour before the concert.
Saturday, Feb. 3, preceding St. Olaf Choir
Anton Armstrong, Assoc. Prof, of Music, Calvin College; President, American Choral
Directors Association Sunday, Feb. 25, preceding Borodin String Quartet
Natalie Challis, Lecturer in Slavic Languages and Literatures, U-M Friday, Mar. 16, preceding American Contemporary Dance Festival Final Concert
Debra Cash, Dance Critic, The Boston Globe Saturday, Mar. 17, preceding Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Roland Wiley, Assoc. Prof, of Music, U-M Wednesday, Mar. 21, preceding Thomas Allen, baritone
Martin Katz, Prof, of Music in Accompanying, U-M Sunday, Apr. 1, preceding Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Peter Meyer, Ass't. Manager, SKR Classical Records Saturday, Apr. 14, preceding Murray Perahia, pianist
Deanna Relyea, Director, Kerrytown Concert House Saturday, Apr. 28, preceding The King's Singers
Kenneth Fischer, Executive Director, University Musical Society
University Musical Society Board of Directors
David B. Kennedy, President, Ann S. Schribcr, Vice President, Thomas Kauper, Secretary Norman G. Herbert, Treasurer, Gail W. Rector, President Emeritus
RobertG. Aldrich, Carl A. Brauer,Jr.,JamesJ. Duderstadt, Richard L. Kennedy, PatrickB. Longjudythe R. Maugh, Rebecca McGowan, John D. Paul, John Psarouthakis, Herbert E. Sloan, Lois U. Stegeman, Gilbert R. Whitaker, Jr., Kenneth C. Fischer, Executive Director
This activity is supported by the Michigan Council for the Arts. The University Musical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides programs and services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or handicap.
Group Ticket Discounts
The University Musical Society invites groups often or more to "experience the classics" in the Society's 1989-90 concert season. A varying rate of discounts from 15 to 25 percent will apply to a wide range of 35 specified concerts. For a free Group Ticket Sales brochure, call 763-3100 or 763-0611.
15 discount for purchases of 20 to 46 seats.
20 discount for purchases of 47 or more seats.
20 discount for student or senior group purchases of 10 or more seats.
25 discount for ten specially designated concerts offered to groups of 20 or more and student or senior groups of 10 or more.
Coming Concerts
St. Olaf Choir Kenneth Jennings................................ Sat. Feb. 3
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra ................................ Wed. Feb. 7
Kazimierz Kord, conductor; Zoltan Kocsis, pianist
Faculty Artists Concert (free admission) ......................... Sun. Feb. 11
Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra ................................... Fri. Feb. 16
Leon Fleisher, conductor; John O'Conor, pianist
New York City Opera National Company................ Sat., Sun. Feb. 17, 18
Puccini's "La Boheme"
Borodin String Quartet ....................................... Sun. Feb. 25
Maurizio Pollini, pianist......................................... Fri. Mar. 9
Contemporary American Dance Festival................. Mon.-Fri. Mar. 12-16
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.................................Sat. Mar. 17
Dmitri Kitaenko, conductor; Vladimir Krainev, pianist
Thomas Allen, baritone....................................... Wed. Mar. 21
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra................................ Sun. Mar. 25
David Zinman, conductor; Isaac Stern, violinist
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Iona Brown ................ Sun. Apr. 1
The Feld Ballet...................................... Wed., Thurs. Apr. 4, 5
Jim Cullumjazz Band........................................... Sat. Apr. 7
William Warfield, narrator; Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess"
Murray Perahia, pianist......................................... Sat. Apr. 14
Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia Marc Mostovoy............... Sun. Apr. 22
The King's Singers ............................................ Sat. Apr. 28
Underwritten by Parke Davis Research Division of Warner Lambert.
97th Annual May Festival -May 9-12,1990 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, 8:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Andre Previn, Guest Conductor and Pianist
The Festival Chorus
Hei-Kyung Hong, Soprano Richard Stilwell, Baritone Wednesday -Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F; Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 Thursday --John Harbison: Concerto for Brass Choir and Orchestra; Mahler: Symphony No. 4,
with Hei-Kyung Hong
Friday -Beethoven: Symphony No. 4; Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4 Saturday -All-Brahms: "Tragic" Overture; "A German Requiem," for Chorus, Orchestra, and Soloists
Series now on sale; single tickets available March 1.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Burton Memorial Tower, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1270 Phones: (313) 764-2538; 763-TKTS