Search - Márta Sebestyén :: Dudoltam

Beautiful Voice and Beautiful Music!

Gracejoy | New York, NY United States | 07/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I spent a little over a week in Hungary this past April, and since music is my passion I wanted buy a CD as a souvenir of my trip. Knowing nothing about Hungarian music, I asked the lady in the shop for her advice as to "the best CD of Hungarian music - something truly beautiful and truly Hungarian". She flipped through a bunch of CDs and pulled out this one. I wasn't so sure, as I had been imagining more a large group ensemble than a solo singer, but she was adamant that this was truly special and that I would love it . . . so I bought it.I owe this lady tremendous thanks -- she was absolutely right. This music captures the spirit and soul of Hungary, but you definitely don't have to be Hungarian to love it. Marta Sebestyen's voice is strong, but gentle when it needs to be -- sometimes soft and mellow, sometimes lively and spirited, and always beautiful. The songs themselves are bursting with a range of moods, from festive to pensive. The Hungarian folk band that accompanies her is also excellent! They are as much a part of the recording as she is and they shine by themselves in several instrumental passages. There is a gorgeous flute sound that runs through many of the songs, lots of vibrant strings, and other instruments that I can't even name - probably specific to that region of Europe. While all of the songs are good, there are two that stick out as especially beautiful and that make the CD worth buying no matter what: "Harom Arva" ("Three Orphans"), which is one of the slower and mode melodic songs, and "Teremtes" ("Genesis"), which has a lively, soul-stirring mood -I always want to sway back and forth when I hear it.If you like the sound of a strong female vocalist, and if you like (or want to be introduced to) Hungarian folk music, I can't think of a better recording than this one. My only complaints are that the total running time is short (43 minutes), and that, because I bought the CD in Hungary, my liner notes are all in Hungarian. I think the liner notes you'll get (from amazon.com) have an English translation."

Wonderful

Eleanor Skinner | Albany, NY United States | 10/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd was put out in the US a while ago with the title Muzsikas, & the artist listed as Muzsikas with Marta Sebestyen. I got it back when people used strange things called cassette tapes. This is not quite as amazing as The Prisoner's Song, but contains the unforgettable songs I Planted A Violet (Vetettem Violat) and Genesis (Teremtes), featuring Marta Sebestyen backed by wild Hungarian bagpipes. Marta has one of the most clear, beautiful voices in the world, & the rest of Muzsikas is top quality as well. Put the media in your player type of choice & enjoy."