Klarinet Archive - Posting 000272.txt from 1997/05

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: repertoire search
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 12:00:25 -0400

Micheal,
I don't know this particular piece but I do know that Sekely
(pronounded say'-kay) is a region of Hungary. If it is a men's dance then
it is probably a 'Legenes' (pro. leg'-en-yesh) or a 'Verbunk' (just like
Bartok's 'Contrasts'). Both are in a moderate two about 1/4-note =
100-108. Both are dances in which the men parade around in a general
circle and show off their fancy footwork (and nifty expensive
leather boots) with stamping patterns, clapping and slapping various body
parts (such as boot calves, heels, etc. - can you say "Hambone"?) and even
do occasional down-steps.
The origin of the Verbunk (which is based upon the older Legenes)
is that the soldiers would come through the countryside to look for
recruits. Farm boys would invariably fall over each other in eagerness to
see the world, find adventure, etc. - anything to get off the boring
farms. Well, at village fairs, the military musicians would strike up a
march-like Verbunk and the drill sargeant would invite boys to try to copy
his fancy parade steps and show-off moves derived from the Legenes dance.
Those boys who could a) follow
orders quickly, b) learn quickly just by loooking, c) not trip over
themselves or bmp into others, were obviously good candidates for
trainable soldiers who would also look good in formation. Thus the
"recruiting dance".

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Thu, 8 May 1997, GALVAN wrote:

> One of our wind conductors at Ithaca College, Mark Fonder, asked me about a
> work: Szekeley Men's Dance by Istvan Bogar for clarinet and winds, and I
> couldn't tell him a thing. Can someone help me? MG
>
> Michael Galvan
> Professor of Music, Clarinet
> School of Music
> Ford Hall 208
> Ithaca College
> Ithaca, NY 14850 USA
>
> 607-274-3410
> fax: 607-274-1727
> e-mail: galvan@-----.edu
>
>