Akadémia Kiadó

„The greater the scientific achievement that is condensed in a synthetic work, the greater the stimulation it gives for further research." Bartók's and Kodály's „syntheses have stimulated so much new research that it is time once more to summarize the new findings." Vargyas's work (first published in 1981) which summarizes the achievements of Hungarian research into the Hungarian material discusses folk music on the basis of the musical aspects of the tunes (e.g. melody, tone set, rhythm, form, variation, types, styles), and also from the point of view of its social role in tradition, and as of an aesthetical phenomenon. Each chapter approaches the material from a different angle, the theoretical discussion shedding always new light on the same tunes. This survey naturally implies an insight also into the results of international ethnomusicological research; and will hopefully have a great impact on the subsequent development of ethnomusicology. Abounding in musical examples both written (almost 1000) and sound (433 pieces on the CD-ROM), the disk will be most probably welcomed a circle broader than that of the researchers. Due to a soaring worldwide interest taken in folk music, including its performance as well, the demand for folklore publications (especially those with authentic, original recordings) has evidently been growing.