Hungarian 

Dance & Music Camp

Drone Magic

The CD!

Hungarian Folk Culture through Song & Dance

 Clockwise: Zoltán Tobak/Gardon, Mária Tobak/Tekero (Hurdy Gurdy), Ferenc Tobak/Duda (Bagpipe), 

Mary Wallace Tobak/Koboz (Lute).

On September 18, 2005, the Ferenc Tobak Ensemble presented traditional Hungarian music and dance as part of the Cultural Arts & Activities programming of UC Berkeley's Hearst Museum. The Sunday afternoon program advertised "All ages are welcome"  and the enthusiastic audience spanned the generations.

Ferenc is one of Hungary's leading musicians and in recent years has added members of his family to his dynamic performances; Sunday he appeared with his wife, Mary, and two of their children, Mária and Zoltán. Using traditional instruments, the Ensemble played music from several regions that included different parts of Hungary as well as areas in Romania where the Hungarian culture is still strong.  

Descriptions and stories of the unique instruments the Tobak's use helped the audience to better understand the Hungarian Bagpipe (Duda), Hurdy Gurdy (Tekerő), Lute (Koboz), Tambura and a variety of flutes including the 'Tilinko' which has no finger-holes at and yet, on which Ferenc is able to produce a remarkable number of tones.   Throughout the program Ferenc or his wife, Mary, also took the time to give brief explanations of the music and some of the folklore surrounding what they are playing. The final musical number began with the translated folk tale of "The Shepherd who lost his sheep" and ended with a spirited tune called the "Goat Dance."

Audience members were then graciously invited to learn some of the lively Hungarian folk dances, lead by Mary, to the live music of Ferenc and his children.

As an added treat, Erika Vasas of San Leandro, offered for sale her handmade Hungarian pastries -  a very delicious part of the afternoon.

The HEARST MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY is located on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley.

The event was co-sponsored by the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, UC Berkeley.

 For more information, visit their website: www.hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu. 

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