"The tárogató is really the voice of the Hungarian soul, a national treasure," says the tárogató artist Zoltán Erdő. On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the reformation of the instrument, a celebratory concert will be held on September 19 at 7 p.m. in Budapest's Szent István Basilica. In the evening, the gems of Kuruc romance will be performed by Zoltán Erdő, winner of the Transylvanian Hungarian Heritage Award, dulcimer artist Jenő Lisztes, and the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra. On this occasion, he interviewed Zoltán Mandiner Erdő.
The tárógató was one of the well-known musical instruments of the Kuruc era, and in fact, its history goes back much longer than that. What does the 125-year anniversary refer to?
Indeed, there are two types of racks. The historical one, which most people know as the Kuruc-era book, as well as the reform book. We will celebrate the latter's 125th birthday on September 15 this year. It is precisely on this day, because master instrument maker János Stowasser submitted to the Royal Hungarian Patent Office the description and plans of the instrument he had renewed with decades of work. Stowasser, who settled in Budapest as a member of the famous Czech instrument-making dynasty, was the owner of the first instrument factory in Hungary. The building that housed it, although it was hit by a bomb in the Second World War, has been restored to its original condition and can still be admired today at 5 Lánchíd utca. These so-called reformers were also made here, of such unique quality that musicians all over the world still hunt for the pieces produced in the former Stowasser workshop.
Of course, this does not mean that the other reservoirs are not very good, but it is certain that the Stowasser ones are the most valuable. And perhaps they stand the test of time the most.
You're playing one too. How did you manage to get it?
In my case, the instrument actually found its player, because I still play on the tárogato inherited from my grandfather.
He was not a musician, but as a carpenter he was attracted to all works of art made of some special exotic wood. In addition to the rosewood tankard, I also owe him a hundred-year-old flute made of ebony. In 1940, my grandfather bought this rack from its previous owner, which may be about one hundred and twenty years old now. In the case of tárogats, it is of particular importance when they were made, because the older, i.e. the drier, the wood of an instrument, the richer it resonates in the hands of the player. In this way, the soul of these ancient instruments is nurtured by skilled hands, which, if lucky, can be experienced and felt by both the performer and the audience.
In the interview of Anita Farkas, you can read many other interesting facts about the tárogátó on Mandiner .
Rákóczi's conversion - Zoltán Erdő's music at the Salföld Pauline monastery.
Opening photo: Csaba Molek/Zoltán Erdő's hundred and twenty-year-old Stowasser collection
