Virtual Program | Hungarian Folk Singing Class Series [Alföld, the Great Plain]

Join us for Hungarian folk singing classes held in English! These fun, engaging classes cover a wide range of beautiful village songs from across the Hungarian language area, crafted over generations of oral tradition. The songs are taught directly from village source recordings, and the classes include pronunciation, translation, detailed background information, maps, vocal technique, and more. Led by Zina Bozzay, known for her academic rigor and friendly teaching style, the classes are open to participants of all backgrounds, with no previous experience required. We currently offer three class times, in person on Mondays at the Óbuda Folk Music School in Budapest and on Zoom on Tuesdays at two different times for participants all around the world. All classes times are small-group and interactive, with the same material covered in each group. Every six weeks we move to a new region and a new group of songs.

January 20 – February 25, 2025: Songs of Alföld. Covering the eastern side of Hungary and stretching into neighboring countries, the famous Great Hungarian Plain is the largest of the Hungarian cultural regions and at the center of the Carpathian Basin. For some tourists, it is the most quintessentially Hungarian region — associated with gulyás and cowboys — while for some of today’s táncház enthusiasts, it may be the region they know the least. Perhaps you’ve heard reference to Szatmár or Matyó, Hortobágy or Hajdúság, Kiskunság or Nagykunság, Dél-Alföld, or the regions across the borders where Hungarians live in Ukraine and in Serbia. Come learn more and join us for 6 weeks of great songs, from iconic melodies to rare gems.

Please share this opportunity with your friends and communities who may be interested!