19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful Hungarian Musical Odyssey, October 12, 2002
This review is from: Music From Hungary (Audio CD)
Sandor Deki Lakatos and his Gypsy Ensemble play with passion and energy --- delightful, charming music you could hear in a 5 star restaurant in Hungary or traditional music from a village ... they have mastered it all! They are virtuosos, artists who seem to effortlessly create exotic tunes such as Staccato, Whistle Hora, or the Lark. They have the talent to please any audience. They play traditional Hungarian music as well as variations from Transylvania. The music on this CD is the pride of Hungary - the sounds that all Hungarians recognize. It makes them reminisce about the "homeland" and discuss "what might have been", it reminds them of the many changes in Hungarian history, the diasporas of immigrants who left after each major historical upheaval. This is the music that accompanied them to new homelands and the music that became the glue that held them together as a community, while assimilating to a new lifestyles
It is the music that brings tears to many Hungarians eyes and the music that brings smiles and laughter to many others. It is beautiful music that is available at an unbeatble price! Erika Borsos (erikab93)
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good sampling of true Hungarian Folk Music, December 5, 2001
This review is from: Music From Hungary (Audio CD)
Being of Hungarian heritage and with many years of music training, I am always looking for a good recording of Hungarian folk music. Since my parents are both from Hungary, I grew up with tapes and songs throughout my childhood but have always been disappointed in CDs I've bought. This is the first CD that had the music I loved as a child with phenomenal performers. And to think that most of these guys most likely can't even read music!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Hungarian Music, May 19, 2007
This review is from: Music From Hungary (Audio CD)
I think there is some room for confusion the way this album is marketed. I have a hunch some people are buying this album thinking it is Sandor Lakatos. There is a difference between Sandor Lakatos and Sandor Deki Lakatos. They are two different people. In fact, Deki Lakatos is Sandor's son. There is also Sandor Deki Lakatos Jr. The Lakatos dynasty (which is exactly what it is) carries on a long tradition of playing excellent Hungarian music. For me though, no one comes close to the father, except maybe Boross Lajos.
"Music from Hungary" is a good CD to buy for those familiar and not familiar with Hungarian music. As I said the Lakatos family is well known in Hungary for their amazing skill, so musicians and Hungarian music lovers will instantly take note of Lakatos' great skill while the unfamiliar listener will sit back and enjoy something they have probably never heard before.
I admit I'm a little bias when it comes to this kind of music as I am Hungarian and a musician (as well as the son of a son of a musician) who plays this kind of music. It is something I have heard everyday of my life. It is music which gives me the most joy to listen to. So if I gush at this music, keep in mind, I simply can't help myself. At the same time I want to remain objective and keep in mind how other people might react. Those who do not like or know very little about this kind of music.
Most of the songs on the CD actually are not really Hungarian. Over half of the songs are Romanian. Kind of makes you wonder whats on the "Music from Romania" CD! Half of the songs were written by the great Romanian composer Grigoras Dinicu. There is "The Lark", "March Hora", "The Mail" and a "Hora Dance"
My favorite tracks on the album are "The Lark" (great cimbalom solo. Sadly, as usual, no mention of who it is. It would be nice to know whose playing I'm copying) for something a little different, more slower "Valse Triste" is just beautiful. A duet between cimbalom and violin. I also like the medley of Hungarian dances (No. 1, 5 and 6). The old standby's are here and played quite well, "Monti's Csardas" and "Whistle Hora".
For the price of the CD honestly it is well worth it. I'm glad I bought the CD. I wish amazon had more Hungarian CDs at such resonable prices. For that matter, I wish amazon had more Hungarian CDs at ANY price from artists as talented as Lakatos.
Bottom-line: Great sample of what the Lakatos dynasty is all about. Good, fast arrangements of old standard Hungarian and Romanian songs that lovers of this type of music should enjoy!
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