The Haydn Baryton Trio from Budapest performed some memorable baroque compositions at the recently concluded International Festival at IIC. The musicians talk to Arjita Mishra
On a large stage, musical instruments were set, chairs were placed and lights were playing dramatically. The fountain lawn of India International Centre was perfectly decorated with the lights, candles and flowers which in itself gave the feel of a festival.
At the IIC Experience: Festival of Arts, performers from Hungary came to show their talent. Three artistes — Kakuk Balazs, Spengler Jozsef and Kaszanyitzky Andras played Baroque music and won hearts during their 90 minutes performance.
Baroque music is a style composed from approximately between 1600 and 1750 AD. Baroque music forms a major portion of the classical music. It also relates to or denotes a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterised by ornate details. In architecture, the period is exemplified by the palace of Versailles and by the work of Wren in England. Major composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Caravaggio and Rubens.
“In Hungary, Baroque is a classical music and baryton gamba (a string instrument from viol family played in Europe), vilo da gamba (a viol is a bowed string instrument similar to the cello) and violoncello are the three important instruments,” said Balazs, leader of the group.
Balazs formed the group Haydn Baryton Trio Budapest in 1980 to revive Joseph Haydon’s (written and composed the music that can be played on gamba when inspired by the Prince Miklos Esterhazy) 200 – odd compositions for Baryton. The group plays all the Barytons from Haydn.
At the event, Balazs played baryton gamba whereas, Jozsef and Andras played violin and cello. They took their music to another level where everyone went into their own imaginary world and appreciated the music.
The artistes presented the work which was composed by veteran composers. “We performed on the music which is composed by Mozart, Beethoven, Tomasini and Nauman who are the great composers. He was a very good Barytongamba player,” said Balazs.
Jozsef, an artiste from the group started his musical study of the violin when he was just six- year old and by the time when he was 10 years old, he was a multiple winner of the Youth Music Violin Competition in Budapest.
Another artiste, Andras, has been awarded with many awards and had also been a part of several music concerts across the globe.
Apart from cello, Balazs plays all viola soprano, alto horn, tenor saxophone and bass. “As a child I have seen these instruments in museum and then only I decided that I want to learn to play these instruments,” he concluded.