This recording is named for Ritka Magyar - the traditional men’s dance found in Transylvania’s Western Mezőség region, though this type of men’s dance is also popular in the central Transylvanian villages as well. The young men danced it usually at the beginning of the dance cycle either solo or in a group. It is improvised and richly ornamented with complex rhythmic motifs. The best dancers strived to create a perfect harmony between the dance and the music. Despite its improvisational character the dance strictly adhered to the phrasing of the accompanying melody.

Téka’s two young lead fiddlers play the most typical men’s and couple dance melodies from the peasant music tradition of the region, with the utmost in condensed and seasoned bowed accompaniment.

1. Ritka és sűrű magyar (Magyarpalatka) 6:56

2. In my little garden there is an old mulberry tree…(Lassú, négyes, sűrű és ritka tempó – Szék) 10:25

3. Magyar tánc, gyors magyar, sűrű kurázsi (Magyarszovát) 6:37

4. The radish says all… (Lassú, cigánytánc, ritka és sűrű fogásolás, zsidó tánc – Ördöngösfüzes) 9:24

5. My heart aches inside and out….(Lassú, csárdás, batuta – Buza) 10:14

Total time: 43:36

Téka Ensemble:
Soós András - violin
Kalász Máté - violin
Tárnoki Beatrix - voice
Hegedűs Luca - 3-stringed viola
Lányi György - 3-stringed viola
Havasréti Pál - double bass, cello

Sound : Kopcsik Márton
Editing musical direction: Havasréti Pál
Cover art: Juhos Kiss Sándor
Photo: Pataky Zsolt
Cover design: Berán István
Recorded at the Fonó Music Hall in Budapest