Branford Marsalis – Project Note 

When I was asked to create music based on Hungarian Folk Music, I immediately knew what I didn’t want to do. I had no interest in taking melodies from folk songs and adding “jazz” chords to them, followed by endless amounts of soloing. That would have been too reductive, devoid of any musical context. When playing music from a different culture, you have to start by listening.  

I immediately started watching and listening to videos of Hungarian folk and non-folk musicians. In addition, I discovered a CD of a Hungarian Dance-House Festival that featured traditional songs and dances of Hungary. I listened to the music for 8 months, and sadly, felt that the deadline was too soon for me to absorb the sound of the music. Then the pandemic arrived, and the only good thing to come of it – for me – was getting an additional 8 months to listen. One morning around 3:00 am, I woke up with the sound of a song in my head that was an amalgam of everything I had been listening to. It was now time to write and arrange.

The live performance videos helped me contact excellent Hungarian musicians, who then recommended other players. In the end, we augmented the quartet with 7 additional musicians: vocalist, 2 wood flutists (one doubling on accordion, the other doubling on duda), taragato, guitar, and 2 violinists.   
Almost 2 years after the original commission request from Müpa Budapest, we met for 2 days of rehearsals before the actual concert. Much to my surprise, everything came together very quickly. I love how the guys in the quartet had the discipline and musical flexibility to adapt to our surroundings, as opposed to doubling down on the familiar, the comfortable.  

There are many great musical moments captured in these pieces. I hope you enjoy hearing the result as much as we loved developing it.