Every once in a while we are witnesses to a very special program, and as we journeyed through the “Soulful Voice of Hungary”, we learned so much about the “Klasszikus Magyar Nóta! This is an art form that has been recognized by the Hungarian government as a “Hungarikum”, a national cultural gem.
Many of us sitting in the audience recalled listening to the various Hungarian radio programs that featured these beautiful songs that our speaker referred to as “The Classical Hungarian Art Song.”
The Museum was packed as Ms. Emőke Armington delivered her outstanding presentation, which featured historical and musical insights to this unique art form, as well as live performances of “Nóta” songs. We heard a wide variety- some lively and humorous, some soulful, some hauntingly expressive. Some were sung with accompaniment and some were sung a capella. Both the lyrics as well as the melodies that Ms. Armngton chose, were perfect examples of the wide scope of songs that fall under the “Klasszikus Magyar Nóta” umbrella. We were able to “hear” how the “Nóta” serves as a bridge between the folk and the more classical forms of Hungarian music.
To say that our audience was enchanted is probably an understatement. The”Soulful Voice of Hungary” touched everyone, and we were all conscious of the fact that Emőke Armington is an immensely talented artist as well as a top-notch musiclogist.
Thank you Emőke for sharing this magyar treasure with us!
And a special thanks to Dr. Klara Papp, Program Committee Chair, for inviting Emőke to give this presentation.
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