Upon hearing the Hungarian word 'prímás', someone with some basic music knowledge may inform you that it refers to the lead violinist in a Gypsy band. Fewer people are aware, however, that a cimbalom player can also perform in the role of 'prímás'. In this case, the cimbalom player is the one to take over the melody and lead the band. The Tárkány Trió, who specialise in folk music, were created from the Tárkány Művek (Tárkány Works) collective, founded in 2008. In the newer group, alongside the band leader Bálint Tárkány-Kovács, viola player Márton Fekete and double bass player Péter Molnár explore untravelled paths. Because the cimbalom, viola and double bass line-up has been a popular formation for centuries, there is a wealth of raw materials to draw from, enabling the trio to choose the highest quality pieces and uncover hidden delights. Tárkány-Kovács's band make their selections from the widest possible circle, wowing their audiences with virtuoso interpretations of the Hungarian, Romanian, Gypsy and Sinto repertoires. The trio's goal is to research the cimbalom musicians and lead cimbalom players of the Carpathian Basin and then showcase their findings in their music with concerts and albums. Tárkány-Kovács believes that their pioneering work is not merely a careful reconstruction of older music, evoking the ghostly shapes of musicians from a bygone era: new paths are being unearthed and trodden upon in this ancient yet familiar landscape.

Age: 8-14 year
Presented by: Müpa Budapest