Verbunkos

The Verbunkos [ vɛɾbunkoʃ ] is a Hungarian dance and music style that originated in the 18th century.

Verbunkos derives linguistically from the word recruit from and was originally played in the recruitment of soldiers. However, towards the end of the 18th century, the music broke away from their original function and received by the characteristic manner of performance of the musicians who were mostly Roma, their formative style. Roma are regarded as the real bearers of Verbunkos. A dominant role among them was played by the János Bihari Prímás as the most famous composer and performer of Verbunkos.

In the second half of the 19th century Verbunkos also came to the opera houses. Two of the most famous operas of Ferenc Erkel, Hunyadi László and Bánk bán were heavily influenced by that style of music.

The first set of composition contrasts for violin, clarinet and piano (1938 ) by Béla Bartók 's designation Verbunkos: Moderato ben ritmico. His Violin Concerto No. 2 is another example of the Verbunkos style.

Important musicians of Verbunkos

• János Bihari
• Antal Csermák
• János Lavotta