Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra

In Hungarian, "Rajkó" means "Gypsy youth"—a most fitting title, since the average age of the 35 musicians and dancers in the orchestra was only 17 during their 1972 tour of the United States, and each member of the group is descended from Gypsy musicians. After seeing the orchestra perform, Daniel Webster of the Philadelphia Inquirer described their music as "fast, frenzied, passionate." The album showcases traditional Gypsy song structures such as czardas and mountain dances. In addition to the Rajkó ensemble, four compositions are performed by the Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra under the guidance of conductor Sándor Lakatos, a sixth-generation Gypsy violinist renowned for his performances in Budapest. Liner notes include a brief album introduction and a list of suggested Gypsy/Hungarian recordings.

Track Listing

101	Pacsirta (The Lark) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	03:38
102	Magyar Ábránd (Hungarian Fantasy) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	04:52
103	Nótacsokor 1 (Medley No. 1) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	07:45
104	Sarkantyús Verbunk (Recruiting Dance) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	03:09
105	Nótacsokor 2 (Medley No. 2) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	06:23
201	Ritka Búza / Casinó Csárdás (Wheat and Barley / Casion Czardas) Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Sándor Lakatos	03:44
202	Érik a Hajlik a Búzakalasz / Hajlik a Rózsafa (Undulating Wheat Fields / Bowing Rose Bush) Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Sándor Lakatos	02:28
203	Repülj Fecském (Fly, My Swallow) Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Sándor Lakatos	04:13
204	Badacsonyi Kéknyelü / Paprika, Só (Balaton Wine / Paprika and Salt) Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Sándor Lakatos	02:10
205	Lavotta Szerenád (Lovotta Serenade) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	03:20
206	Magas a Kaszárnya / Nem Vagyok Én / Ha Madárka Volnek (How High the Barracks Are… / I Am Not… / If I Were a Little Bird) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	02:40
207	Palotás És Friss (Two Dances) Rajko Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra, Mátyás Jónás	04:18