Üsztürü

"An "üsztürü" is a particular type of forked branch pitched in the fields of Székelyföld (Eastern Transylvania). Its function is to support the drying of crops and haystacks. ÜSZTÜRÜ was founded in May 1992 in Kolozsvár by Levente Major (violin), Csongor Könczei (viola) - both from Kolozsvár itself - and József Szász (viola) and Lörinc Szász (double bass) - brothers from Korond (in Western Székelyföld). Initially, the group explored the basics of folk music while playing for the 'Bogáncs' folk-dance group. ('Bogáncs' had been founded in 1985 at Brassai Samuel College in Kolozsvár). After high school Levente Major and Csongor Könczei went on to study at the Philological University while the Szász brothers gained their diplomas at the Technical University. (Later Csongor Könczei took up the offer to lead the 'Bogáncs' dancers and so left ÜSZTÜRÜ.) At the beginning of Autumn 1992, while still students, the musicians were contracted to join the Háromszék State National Dance Group by its then leader Árpád Könczei. At Háromszék, ÜSZTÜRÜ expanded to include István Moldovan Horváth (violin - from Marosvásárhely). As accompanists for Háromszék, ÜSZTÜRÜ laid the foundation of their image and popularity in Transylvania with such tunes as 'My Father's Dance' and with 'The Bride, a Pretty Flower'. As well as working with those dance groups, ÜSZTÜRÜ frequently played in folk-dance houses, folk-dance camps and performed in many other countries in Europe. Notwithstanding the decline in the numbers of folklore musicians and dancers by the end of the twentieth century, Transylvania has retained its traditions of folk music and dance. Thus it is no surprise that this group is especially interested in music played on string instruments from throughout Transylvania (Szék, Kalotaszeg, Mezőség, Küküllömente, Székelyföld). Striving to play folk music authentically, ÜSZTÜRÜ has developed personal ties with Transylvanian gipsy musicians. Roving the villages, the work of collecting turns into study-programs for which they have had excellent masters, like Sándor Fodor/Netti of Bács, the Kodoba family from Palatka, István Jambor (Dumnezu), and Ferenc Mezei (Csángáló) from Szászcsávás as well as the late Ádám István (Icsán) of Szék, and the late Ferenc Antal (Arus) of Méra both of whose works can only be known by recordings. ÜSZTÜRÜ's main aim is expressed by the group as follows: As we work with this music which fascinates us, we frequently meet living embodiments of Transylvania, owing to whom our respect for local folklore has deepened. So we feel compelled to meet those people in their own environment and be enriched by their daily outlook. Our experiences have brought forth feelings, moods and thoughts which we strive to express through our music. " From their website: http://www.xyd65.dial.pipex.com/tanc/uszturue.shtml Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.