double-bass
“I like all kinds of music, but playing the folk tradition is what I enjoy most. „
“I was literally born into the dancehouse movement in 1973, as my parents took an active role in organizing the first “táncház” in Budapest. I grew up with my father constantly listening to folk records by the bands of the time – he was making choreographies. This environment accompanied me throughout my childhood, which I spent at dance houses and rehearsal rooms, absorbing folk music without noticing. I learnt to play the cello from Ferenc Belej and the groundwork of music theory from Eszter Demel. As the first violinist of Téka band, László Porteleki taught in my school, I soon joined a folk music band there. By the time I entered secondary shool, there was a folk music faculty, where I learnt to play double bass under the guidance of Elemér Konkoly and Albert Mohácsy. I also attended classes by Pál Havasréti at Óbuda Music School. I first met village musicians, the transmitters of living tradition in summer camps. They taught me and occasionally I got to assist field work with my play. I got to pass all the stages of folk music studies by the age of 18, but one vital part was still missing: regular contact with, personal experience of and field work collecting village music.
Born into folk music culture as his father is a dancer-choreographer, a start in classical music, a lasting affair with blues – playing bass for Dr Valter blues band – and a final homecoming to the folk tradition could describe the musical path of András Lelkes. He set up the label FolkEuropa with Endre Liber in the year 2000.
I decided to enter higher education, studying at Business College and the University of Economics, but I never stopped playing music. I played in a blues band, Dr. Valter & the Lawbreakers, and got back into folk music playing in Cifra band and finally Tükrös. For a couple of terms I also studied jazz at Erkel Ferenc Music School.
We launched the label FolkEuropa with my partner Endre Liber in 2001, I have been working with music from the industry side ever since. Albums by Tükrös Ensemble received several awards and good reviews, but I treasure the praise given to the series recording field work equally high.”
