"Of Two Worlds" Mária" Marika" Tobak

"Of Two Worlds" Showcase Concert Mária "Marika" Tobak Read the Review and the Poem Magyarul/Hungarian See some Pictures/Képek, Listen to the Music/Zene! Link to Biography

	"I AM AN ARMY" That is the refrain of the original poem with which Mária "Marika" Tobak ended the evening last Thursday [May 3, 2007] at Matheson Performing Arts Center [in Mendocino, CA]. The poem clearly conveyed the strength of a powerful young woman who, carrying a home she treasures in her heart, is on a personal quest to save the world through music, art, laughter and a fierce commitment to peace. Her poem also caused many hands to dip into pockets and purses in search of tissues and handkerchiefs. Here was one of our own, and we had much of which to be proud.
Click on picture for larger image. Photo Courtesy Jon Klein
It was Marika's evening. The concert called "Of Two Worlds" presented the music of her heritage and her own original compositions in two programs. The Tobak Family -- Marika, mother Mary and brother Zoltán all led by Master musician, patriarch Ferenc Tobak -- performs traditional Hungarian folk music, which filled the concert's first program with folk tales and joyous sounds made by instruments with intriguing names: furulya, tilinka, duda, gardon, koboz. Marika and her father were accepted into last year's Master-Apprentice Program from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and the concert was the culmination of that year of work for Master Ferenc Tobak and Apprentice Marika Tobak. The second program was a selection of Marika's original compositions performed by other members of the local music community, including Eva Kidwell, Lynn Kiesewetter, Sandra Cosca, Gary Dixon, Rosie Muto, Will Lemley, and half a dozen other students from the Fort Bragg and Mendocino High Schools, all obviously striving to give their best to the words and music of an exceptionally talented young woman they have watched mature and blossom. Marika's love of and commitment to music, family and community was apparent from the moment she took the stage, seated, without introduction, quietly playing a solo hurdy-gurdy. Each song of the evening received a loving and grin-filled introduction from Marika, filled with fun facts and personal introspection. She is a poised, confident woman, on her way to college to continue her study of music focusing on composition for film. Throughout the night, hearing her music performed by others or performing herself, Marika was fully absorbed; her face reflected a state of .... call it by the name of the song she introduced as her pride and joy. Call it Rapture.
Marika might in fact be an army of one; one who, Thursday evening, could easily be imagined facing down the evils of the world armed only with woodwinds, strings and percussion...and winning. If it took this village to raise this child to be the young woman she is today, this village deserves to be proud. Here, indeed, there must be magic. By Kate Hayes Fort Bragg Advocate News/Mendocino Beacon May 10, 2007
		Photo Courtesy Jon Klein

Listen to some music:

Another Sad Song	Original composition by Mária; performed by Rosie Muto/vocals and Will Lemley/guitar.
	Marika szerzeménye (zene és szöveg); elõadják Rosie Muto/ének és Will Lemley/gitár

X-Men 3: Angel's Cure	Mária's score to the film clip, composed during GRAMMY Camp 2006, recorded by Fox Studio Orchestra.
	Marika filmzenéje 2006-os GRAMMY Camp. A felvétel a világhírû Fox Studió Orchestra elõadásában.

Kavalos	Traditional tunes on Kaval and Koboz with Mária and Ferenc
	Hagyományos erdélyi és moldvai dallam kavalon és kobzon Ferenc és Marika elõadásában.

Review, Poem, Pictures/Képek! Link to Biography Magyarul/Hungarian
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