What do the Hungarian cimbalom and the cymbal have in common? We find the answer from the Ancient Greeks: the word 'kymbalon' referred to an instrument that resembles a modern-day cymbal. Before the Hungarian cimbalom was transformed/enlarged to become a string instrument, it must have been played in a similar manner. In other words, striking the instrument to play it is the common denominator. Today, the now common concert cimbalom, or 'pedálcimbalom' in Hungarian, which stands on four legs, is a descendant of the small cimbalom, which could be placed on the table or even on an empty barrel. The instrument maker József Schunda invented the concert cimbalom in the late 19th century. In recent decades, the cimbalom itself has primarily been used in Gypsy bands, though the instrument was once an illustrious guest of aristocratic salons and prestigious concert halls. Kálmán Balogh is one of Hungary's best known cimbalom players, a regular performer at Müpa Budapest and numerous other illustrious institutions around the world and an influential figure among the new generation of musicians.

Age: 8-12 year
Presented by: Müpa Budapest