Lecture by Katalin Juhász ja Zoltán Szabó on 1848-1849 Revolution and Independence War in Hungaru, march 12, 2012

On March 12 at 14.15 Katalin Juhász and Zoltán Szabó (Budapest, Hungary) will give a public lecture with musical examples titled "When Drums Are Beaten - The Hungarian Revolution and Independence War" (1848-49) in the Folklore and Folk Art". Their lecture will take place in the University of Tartu von Bock building (Ülikooli 16), room 212

You are warmly welcome!

Abstract of the lecture:

The history of a nation can most precisely be known form the existing writings of chroniclers and form the results of historical science. Neverthless, the hisorical consciousness of the masses and also the collective memory (which is a particular projection of the former) bear considerable significance.

A retrospective view on the outstanding events and figures of history will show that the richest material in folklore is associated with revolution and the war of independence. This is partly due to the fact that the collective memory, which is able to span some generations has not forgotten them. On the other hand the time distance is big enough for the period words of art or earlier words recomposed by the people, as well as pieces of well-known poets and composers to polish to more perfection in the process of bequest.

This selection is based on period manuscripts, collections, compilations, on the national collection from 1948-49, special bibliography on folk music and ethnography and also our own collections. The program attempts to illustrate the most different strata of vocal and instrumental music from the period of the independence war, form the pieces of most archaic melody and performance, yet actualised lyrics to the most fresh, partly folklorised songs belonging to that period.

Additional information: researcher Merili Metsvahi, phone: 737 5310, e-mail:  merili.metsvahi@ut.ee