Gregorian Chants and Ballads among the Csángós from the Kallós Collection

Warning: this recording contains original recordings of ethnic performers, recorded with simple devices (phonograph, analogue tape recorder). Therefore, the sound quality is usually more poor as of a studio recording.

The Csángó is a Hungarian population (their name is grown from a special synonime that only they know, ie. 'wanderer'), dwelling to East from Transylvanian Carpaths, in Moldova. This area never was a part of historical Hungary before 1920, and there are various suppositions how they went there. Perhaps they went not at one time and not in one group, the most of them perhaps dwelled there in middle age soon, but their number can be growed with emigrants from Transylvania. In 13th century, the Dominican missions tried to revolve the mixed-language population: the foundation of Milcau bishopy signifying their success. But unfortunately, the Tartarian (Mongolian) crash-in had this progress stopped, so the country became in next centuries missionary area, too. The Hungarian population remaining Catholic, well in 15th century through operation of two Hussit pastors is touched by pre-reformation, later the Franciscan mission held them in Catholic faith, as far made them the most religious population of Hungarian language area. In all case, they had preserved a most old culture, popular life, art and folk music, therefore they are a significant-faced Hungarian population. The folk music research listened since 1920 for their large song repertory (particularly the excellent ballad repertory), the rich format inventary, great distinction technique, exclusive tuning and voice technique, Parlando performance and quick rhythmics.

The Csángó population is Catholic by religion. The older collections could find their rich sacred song repertory, which grounded on János Kájoni's 17th century collection. The researchers could record some plainchant movements translated to Hungarian. In 1968, by collection of Mrs. Janka Szendrei in Nagypatak (Valea Mare, Romania) could be to come in knowledge that this population - without any notation or reading knowledges - sings plainchant in Latin, too, soon securely and with beautiful performance. The cause of this performance were known too: the full village - adults, children and on-hand-sitting little ones too - aldays, soon before work beginning (usually at 4:00 am) participating at mass and sing Gregorian ordinary. The recording contains the IX Gregorian ('De Beata Virgine') mass, and we have known it was alternated with No. VIII ('De Angelis') sung.

For this practice was a deadly sting the Romanian performance of II Vatican Oecumenic Council's liturgical reforms: from beginning of 1970's was the Latin mass celebrating suspended, the Bishopy of Iasi has only Rumanian language celebration permitted. For political reasons, in next 20 years could not any sound material in collection of Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Music Research Institute recorded.

The folk music collectors of Hungarian Academy of Sciences tried "to save which can be saved". They gone around the area, and they found there are some old men and women remembering two Ordinaries and Propries too. These were naturally not recorded in church but by singing of one ore some more older women, and there can be mark the erosion and forgetting: it is very sad, this remembrance will in some years die. Europe will lose what is unrecuperably great.

See booklet for more details.

Tracklist:

1. VIII. Kyrie (1:03)
2. VIII. Sanctus (1:22)
3. VIII. Agnus (1:08)
4. Credo (3:42)
5. IX. Kyrie (2:25)
6. IX. Gloria (3:32)
7. Alleluia (2:03)
8. Kyrie 'Du Mont' (1:25)
9. Agnus 'Du Mont' (1:12)
10. XVIII. Sanctus (0:28)
11. II. Kyrie (1:32)
12. Alleluja (1:03)
13. Rorate celi (0:29)
14. Palm Sunday procession (2:59)
a.) Gloria, laus et honor
b.) Osanna filio David
c.) Pueri Hebreorum portantes
d.) Pueri Hebreorum
e.) Procedamus
f.) Occurrunt turbae
g.) Turba multa
15. Pange lingua (2:45)
16. Victimae Paschali laudes (1:30)
17. Született világ Megváltója ('World's Saviour is born', Hungarian sacred folk song) (1:15)
18. Requiem (1:08)
19. Úrangyala ('Angelus' prayer in Hungarian) (2:25)
20. Itt is kerekedik ('There rounding too', Hungarian prisoner tale) (2:57)
21. Bíró János, Bíró Katalina (Hungarian love tragedy) (23:49)