Photos: Dancing rehearsals with Bartok Dance Ensemble

After the very successful gala performance of Bartok Ensemble, here are the first pictures of the dancing rehearsals. Thanks to Istvan Szabo and Pal Sass for the photos.

Click on photo to see more.

Soon pictures of the gala will be also uploaded and hopefully we also get a few videos. What is more, the Hungarian Television 1 will broadcast the show, most probably around Christmas.

CDs, MP3 downloads

Upcoming gigs

For detailed description, click on the going? button





More concert dates

Madárka, madárka CD on sale

To make space for new stuff, the Madárka, madárka album is on sale at CD Baby!

Only $5 if you buy it together with 2 other CDs from the sales bin

Get bundles of 1x, 2x, 3x3 etc, of Madárka, madárka, if you want to give it to your friends as a present. Or why not even sell it and keep the profit for yourself?

Photos from concert in Edelény

Andrea performed between Vujicsics Band and Hungarian Hurdy-gurdy Orchestra at the 8th Borsod Arts Festival, in Edelény (Northern Hungary)

Dalok Galopp Interview

Andrea is the guest of Civil Radio, in the Dalok Galopp Show which is a bi-weekly program of Songs.hu

Wednesday, 16th July 15:00 (Central Europe Time)

Concerts in June

Andrea Gerak soon in her homeland Hungary again!

Public performances this month:

June 22 Sunday 20:00
Edelény, Borsodi Tájház
"Music of Hungarians from the Carpathian Basin""
Andrea will perform at the evening of Vujicsics Ensemble and Hungarian Hurdy-gurdy Orchestra
A Borsod Arts Festival program
Entrance fee: 800HUF

June 26 Thursday 19:00
Dubicsány, Fignár Festival Court
A Borsod Arts Festival program

Full calendar
Previous concerts

Csángó Night and Dance House

The Sweden-based Petrás Incze János Csángó Foundation is holding a charity event at the Hungarian House in Stockholm. All the benefit from the concert will go to support social and cultural needs of Csángó Hungarians in Moldva.

Time: 24th May 2008
Place: Magyar Ház - Ungerska Huset (Bromma, Lövåsvägen 12, Stora Mossen subway station, green line towards Hässelby) Map


15:00-17:00 dance house for children (Hungarian folk dances)
17:00-19:00 Csángó Night Concert
19:30- till about Midnight dance house for adults (Hungarian folk dances)

Entrance fee: adulsts 80.-SEK, children 30.-SEK

Excellent Hungarian, Japanese, Indian, Polish, Swedish and Latvian artists will perform at the concert of folk music and classical music:

● Barozda (Csongor Simó violin, Lajos Toró viola, József Simó double bass, hurdy-gurdy, koboz): traditional music from Transylvania and Moldva,

● Barna Both (piano) performs his own compositions ("The Little Prince" and "Nocturne"),
● Andrea Gerák Csángó folk songs from Moldva,

● Japanese students of Sonoko Kase play piano,
● Lakshmikanth (tabla, voice) and Saikira (indiai harmonium): classical Indian music,
● Magnus Smedman Band (Swedish bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy): Swedish folk music,
● Milda Zigure and Ineta Zigure Latvian artists (violin and piano)
● Kinga Práda Sagvik (flute),
● György Stuber (Hungarian bagpipe, Moldva Csángó bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy and flute): folk music from Transylvania and Moldva, first ever Csángó bagpipe stage performance in music history!,
● Zsuzsanna Gaal, Gabriella Dybowski, Thomas Svanfeldt és György Stuber Hungarian folk dances.

Dance house music will be played by Barozda and György Stuber.

Donations can be sent to Foundation Petrás Incze János Csángó Alapítvány (Postgiro: 636 25 57 – 8 Receiver: Csángó Fonden Petrás Incze János)

Thank you in the name of Csángós.

Our event is dedicated to commemorate the late Csángó musicians Gergely Mesterke (-2004), Péter Minuc (-2002), Mihály Dima(-2005, Petru Ghiurca bagpipers and János Zerkula (-2008) fiddler who visited Sweden in 2002

Contact: +46 8 254038
Magyar Ház (Hungarian House) in Stockholm

Civil Radio Interview

Saturday, 26 April, 11:30 AM Europe time (GMT+1):

Interview with with Andrea Gerak singing live in the studio.
Listen online

Fringe Pictures

Andrea Gerak at Budapest Fringe Festival

Interview on Népzene.hu

Karolin Benkő's interview in the portrait series of Népzene.hu (=folkmusic.hu) titled The"mysterious voice", Andrea Gerák

Ten years abroad, two years between* (for * see Editor's note in bottom) Sweden and Hungary - right now and according to her plans, more often in Hungary - rejoicing the audience of all ethnicities, ages or music tastes with velvety, tinkling-soaring voice. On the 30th of March, she joined the Fringe Festival program with a concert at Vörösmarty tér and Teátrum Hajó.

What kind of songs did you sing at the Hajó, in the "Set Forth Along a Road" program?
Mainly Hungarian, Turkish and Irish songs were on the repertoire. It was a 40-minute show, mostly with acapella songs, this much was a good length. I also fit a real exotic piece into it, a song from the Solomon Islands... The Vörösmarty tér audience was very much mixed, moving around, most of them strangers, but I am used to this - and they received it well.

Solomon Islands are indeed far from Hungarian melodies... How did it make it into the chosen ones?
There is a song which was arranged by the Deep Forest long ago, called "Sweet Lullaby". It became a big hit. I liked it too and recently I heard another version of it by a Canadian composer, that one is also great. I started to search for the roots of this song and found the original which is a little song from the islands: it was recorded 40 years ago*, performed by an indigenous woman.

Which means that although you are a Hungarian folk singer, you don't exclude foreign melodies either.
No, not at all... While I look for Hungarian folk songs first - if I find one that would fit into that particular show or music offered to me for cooperation. If not, I will take something else. The point is that something in it has to capture me, touch me. For me, the most important is the aesthetic experience, the feeling I can convey.

And what "captures" you?
For example a charming little song, in Baegu language... It was quite difficult to learn the lyrics by the way, had to do it syllable by syllable - but I made it at the end. Not so long ago, I heard a a Finnish song in a church with a melody completely different from Hungarian church chants, still it spoke to my heart.
I like Spanish sound too: it is especially exciting because I discover a kind of parallelism between Spanish and Hungarian music in one song after the other in the works of a musician collegue Ángel Orós (Cambridge 2003 by his artist name and he did most of the music to the Fringe show). About one motive or another, instantly comes to my mind its Hungarian folk song "counterpart", even if originally they had nothing to do with each other, they still fit very well.

The music of Cambridge and other you are working with uses electronica pretty much...
Right, and I don't find this as a reason to be barred, even from folk music genres. Everything depends on the complete sound, the impact, the musical-aesthetical experience created. Electronic music also has its own right within the ethnic genre, one just has to know how to dose and form the elements.

By the way, how are you doing with Swedish songs?
Their pronounciation is very difficult, therefore not too well...*

Do you like your Swedish life?
Yes I do. In many regards, days are easier, more organized, fluent, of better quality and cooler than in Hungary. But despite all difficulties, this is still my country and the "Hungarian spirit" can't be compared. Otherwise Swedes also keep their folklore: traditional music and dance is always part of events. A fact though that the dancehouse culture we are familiar with is not so common over there. Of course, it also depends on that the biggest city where I live, Stockholm is much smaller than Budapest - so it is logical that music and cultural life in general is less colorful than in the Hungarian capital. That's why we did Hungarian dancehouse for them. :-)

What other program are you preparing for, while here?
Those who are interested, can see this "festival show" at Benczúr Klub on the 9th of April, in a little bit extended version, with more new songs. I might put a Russian or Gypsy song on the repertoir, but I still have time, for now I am forming it, thinking it over, organizing it. Maybe, there will be one more concert.

Is the summer also booked?
Looks like I have a lot of invitations, cooperations, many of them are in other countries and I am glad about them. I have contact with a lot of foreigner musicians, like in England or Spain. In Hungary, I am planning things together with FolkFree and we also found each other with Berkó, and in Sweden with Barozda. Despite of the busy schedule I know and the disease I fought recently taught me to know there are limits and one has to be able to say "Stop." and find a balance. But of course, I will try to take on those that I feel really important. I have a lot to do: amongst others, I would like to publish an older album of mine, "Árva az a madár" (Lonely Is The Bird) as a correct CD, in an expanded form.

What do you like most in your profession?
I enjoy singing solo, as well as breathing together with a band. I like that I can reach into this unfailing, bottomless treasure chest, take out a gem, admire it and set it into a frame so that it can become a jewel. And that others can also admire it.

- Karolin Benkő

ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN HUNGARIAN

(Editor's note: *= factual corrections made compared to the Hungarian text)

MIX Magazine Interview

Bird, Flying High - two-page article with Andrea Gerak in the February issue of MIX Magazin.

You can meet Andrea's husband and find out about some of her other favorites as well.


BIRD, FLYING HIGH

She is representing folklore traditions, national values in a world which can be described mainly with disappearing borders. Promoting worldwide the "Hungarian fire", everything that is beautiful and worthy. Andrea Gerak is awaited with love everywhere, from Sweden through Germany still to London. Wherever she appears, the scene is loud from songs of different nations, melodies of one thousand year. Right now here at home, in Hungary.

She arrives hand in hand with her Swedish husband who wouldn't take his eyes off from his wonderful Hungarian wife. Whenever they can, they travel together the world which is more and more open and accepting, but impatient and on the run. Fortunately, Andrea is able to exclude the outside world, enjoying completeness with a book in her hand, in the warmth of home. While other times, in her friends company, she talks effusively, gesturing in a "Hungarian way".

Ózd, Kazincbarcika, Debrecen…
Listening to her Grandma in Debrecen as a small child, she was wishing for singing so beautifully once. For fifteen years, it was folk dance that filled her life: going to dance houses, Transylvanian villages, watching folk performers. However, the time has come when the power of her voice finally demanded its space: at her age of 30, she committed herself to singing. The girl born in Ózd, grew up in Kazincbarcika and Debrecen, and the years spent in Borsod region, its influences determine her character still today. "We would run around in the streets all day long, went to dance rehearsals and our parents didn't need to worry about dangers. Interestingly enough, already that time I was wishing to live in a big city. For a long time, Debrecen meant this for me."

One of the former socialist countries
"Tradition that we are carrying with us since hundreds of years, lives within the people - says Andrea with shiny eyes - It's like as if more and more people understood the importance of preserving national values, cultures, while the boundaries are being washed away and the world is getting more open. By my experience, when the regime changed in Hungary, the foreigners showed an increased interest toward us, but after a while we became just one of the former socialist countries. Nevertheless, they still highly appreciate Hungarian music, Hungarian culture.

Delight, sorrow, life, power
„I feel the fire and vitality in the Hungarians – she continues, sipping her tea. – I have visited many countries but I must say, the Hungarian soul is extremely rich in feelings, both in delight and in sorrow. I was thinking of a final return home, but on the other hand, I am attracted by other countries, lands, and really want to be acquainted with other cultures, with other people. I have seen many great cities, one of them is my current hometown, Stockholm. I am amazed by busy crowds, by the bustle of a metropolis. On the other hand, I dislike that somehow people are limited everywhere. In any country, different way, but the personal freedom is always violated. In some countries it concerns the everyday actions, in some others the spiritual freedom.

"ABBA is still hip"
Andrea sings Irish, Gypsy or Turkish songs, yet Hungarian folk song are closest to her heart. Besides Hungarian and Swedish musicians, she works with Israeli, Spanish, Canadian collegues. She performs at festivals, concert halls, exhibition openings and churches. Not only likes music of different ethnicities, but light music as well: „ABBA is still hip – she says -, but jazz or rock also touches me. Some of my other all-time favorites are Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, Presser, or for example Kormorán.

Test of time
"According to the strictly traditional fraction, the folklore tunes can be transmitted exclusively in their original forms - she talks -, but the innovators, like me, can see many opportunities in the new approach. These melodies have already passed the test of centuries, have proved their highest value. I believe, with the necessary respect to traditions, we can take courage from ancestral tunes when interpret them in new forms."

Although Andrea's curiosity led her to new lands in the last 10 years, her desire to be home became stronger since a while. She spends more and more time in Hungary, often accompanied by her Swedish husband who is enthralled forever by Andrea's voice, openness and naturalness.

T.Sz.
Photos: Mónika Papp

Favorites of the globetrotter girl from Borsod

Book: my current fave is Harry Potter
Food: mashed chestnut with whipped cream
Drink: green tea
Bedtime story: The Little Prince
Music: still Hungarian folk...
Song: impossible to choose one, I have a lot
Landscape: any high point, such as a lookout tower, mountain top, a tower, etc, where I can look far away
Movie: there are a couple of films I could watch ten times more: like Picasso's Adventures, Forrest Gump, Matrix and such

Free download

Today, on 15/January it's Andrea's birthday and as a treat the listeners, all the songs on her MySpace profile are available for free download.

Interview on Radio Fusion

Andrea Gerak is the guest in the Hungarian program Human Rights Were Born For You, of Fúzió Rádió, with a lot of music.

10/January, 13:00 Central Europe time

On air: 11th district of Budapest and 5-6km around it, FM 93,5 MHz.

Listen online

Lonely Is The Bird - video

First co-operation between Andrea Gerak and Effi Shoshani Israeli composer.

Title song of the album Lonely Is The Bird

Theme: Hungarian folk song from Moldva

Andrea Gerak: lead vocals, photos
Effi Shoshani: music arrangement, all instruments

Text in English:

Lonely is the bird
That has no mate,
I am lonely as well,
I don't have one either.

One of my eyes is crying,
Let the other one cry too,
Let them both cry
Like a rainshower.

God should have made it so
That I wouldn't have seen you,
The word about me wouldn't have gone
Along with the word about you.

My name wouldn't have been named
Along with your name,
So that now my gloomy heart
Wouldn't be in deep mourning.

Download song: go to this page.

Folk songs from Domaháza - Video

Traditional songs from Domaháza which is a village in Borsod county (Northern-East Hungary), close to the Slovakian border.


Live recording, photos from the Brugges Festival.






Download it or buy the CD Authentic Hungarian Village Music

In Sweden: Don't Fall Asleep on your mobile phone!

Wow, here is the WOW! The huge Way Out West Festival in Göteborg which starts just tomorrow.

One of Andrea Gerak's songs, Don't Fall Asleep also participated in the competition for indie artists to perform, in front of such names as Erykah Baduh or Kanye West.

The song ended up in the middle range, which is great, if you look at that it was only submitted but not advertised at all. We thank for everybody who found it and voted on it!

Now this song is available for download as a ringtone, you find it on the AllEars site, around place #114.

Andrea uses this on her phone as alarm, it's an excellent wake-up tune!

One sms and it's yours!

Madárka - Little Birdie (Video)

Andrea Gerak singing a Hungarian folk song, improvising with Sandor Fekete-Kiss composer, at a concert in Hungary.
The original piece is almost 18 minutes long, this is the end part.
Last track from the album Árva az a madár - Lonely Is The Bird



Pictures: spring nature photos from Sweden.

Theme: Hungarian folk song from Moldva

Lyrics:
Madárka, madárka,
Áraszd meg a vizet,
Áraszd meg a vizet,
Hadd írjak levelet!

Apámnak s anyámnak,
Szűbeli mátkámnak,
Apámnak s anyámnak,
Szűbeli mátkámnak.

Music arrangement: Sandor Fekete-Kiss
Vocals: Andrea Gerak
Song recorded: live at Symmetry Festival Budapest, 2003
Photos, video: Andrea Gerak

Don't Fall Asleep - concert video

Andrea Gerak performing for a Christmas concert in Stockholm, 2006.



Credits

Theme: traditional Hungarian folk song
Arrangement, music production: Angel Oros (Cambridge 2003)
Musicians: Andrea Gerak - vocals, dance, Angel Oros - keyboards, Jose Aurelio Ferrandez - duduk, ney, Edgar Molina - percussions
Video: Jan Gustafsson (Enhancia)

From the album "Árva az a madár - Lonely Is The Bird"

Video: Don't Fall Asleep (a cappella)

Andrea Gerak sings a beautiful Hungarian folk song