The kuruc were the armed anti-Habsburg rebels in Royal Hungary between 1671 and 1711. Their leader, Rakóczi ferenc became the symbol of the age and inspiration for this patriotic anthem. In the 19th century when Hector Berlioz visited Budapest, he played his "Marche de Rakoczi" causing great excitement among the proud Hungarians. This performance is based on the source "anthem" rather than the adaption of Berlioz.

Rákóczi Siralma (Rákóczi's Lament) - tárogató

Transcription of Zoltan Kodaly's "Evening Song" for tárogató and organ. Recorded with Michael Murray, Music Director, at St. Philip's Anglican Church(Dunbar) in Vancouver.

Esti Dal (Evening Song) - tárogató

In Arbutus, for tárogató and piano, the “new” and “old” worlds collide through two distinct, alternating musical ideas: fast, aggressive, percussive music expressing the chaos of being uprooted and escaping to an unfamiliar country and culture; and slow, longing music evoking memories of the country left behind. The bends and ornaments of traditional tárogató playing are an integral part of both soundworlds, and the piano's tremolos are reminiscent of the cimbalom. The title Arbutus comes from the arbutus tree so common in British Columbia, but not native to Hungary, again reflecting the “newness” of the Soproners’ new home.
Arbutus was commissioned by Jason Hall in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Sopron Division at the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia. It was made possible with the assistance of the British Columbia Arts Council.

Refuge

Arbutus

"I will stay here; it's no problem for me. I'm not
looking for a five star hotel or a lambourghini car or
this stuff." - Syrian refugee
"Yeah, I grew up there as a normal child that have
everything that he want." - Syrian refugee
"It's very, very, very, very difficult." - Syrian refugee
"You, of course, will not be able to lose your accent.
So they will recognize you; they say 'hey buddy,
where are you from?'" - Hungarian refugee

2 It's very very very very difficult

1 Yeah, I grew up there

Hungarian "tent" song with a Kreislerian twist.

Sátoros nóta

Two folksongs from the Carpathian mountains. The Ballad of Pintea the Brave (the Robin Hood of Transylvania)and Fecioreasca de pe Mures (Mures River).

Two Carpathian Folksongs

Long Odds plays for English Country Dancers in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Faithless Nancy Dawson

Whiskey Jack

Recording on my phone, and then shamelessly tarted up in Garage Band.

Down by the Sally Gardens

After a long hiatus from playing professionally, I had a sudden meeting with a certain tárogató. This changed everything. 
One day, a Hungarian cellist friend from Kelowna rung me up and asked if I would head up to the Okanagan to perform a concert for the Okanagan Hungarian Society. To facilitate this happening, he shipped me his prized Stowasser tárogató, a German-made instrument considered the king of tárogotós. I was smitten. 
What followed was a round-the-world search for a tárogató to call my own. I called my favourite clarinet maker in Chile, Luis Rossi, who said he didn’t make tárogatós and suggested I try a maker (and former repairman of mine) in Toronto. Steve of Toronto said he couldn’t retool his clarinet shop to make me a tárogató, but he did suggest I contact Tóth & Tarsa of Budapest. Of course. Why didn’t I think of that first? Budapest!”
So, now I play a custom Albert-system cocobolo tárogató made by Toth & Tarsa of Budapest, Hungary, a replica Stowasser mouthpiece by Pillinger Mouthpieces of Middlesex, UK, a Kodama II ligature by Ishimori Wind Instruments of Tokyo, Japan, and Légère Signature synthetic reeds formulated by Guy Légère of Montréal, Canada.

JasonHall

Popular tracks