The Meaning of Verbunkos in Music
Verbunkos is a term used to describe a genre of Hungarian dance music. The origins of verbunkos can be traced back to the 18th century in Hungary, where it was originally played at recruitment ceremonies to convince young men to join the army.
The term "verbunkos" is derived from the German word "werben," which means "to recruit". During the recruitment process, a military unit would host a grand party with food, drink, and dancing to entice young men to enlist. Officers, led by their sergeant, would perform energetic dances with stomps, high kicks, spur-clicks, and heel slaps. Prospective recruits would gather in increasing numbers and were often pulled into the dance and effectively enlisted by the errant shake of a hand.
Over time, verbunkos became a popular genre of music in Hungary, not only among the poor peasantry but also among the upper-class aristocrats, who saw it as the authentic music of the Hungarian nation. The music features characteristics such as the bokz (clicking of heels) cadence-pattern, the use of the interval of the augmented second, garlands of triplets, widely arched, free melodies without words, and alternately swift and slow tempi.
It is important to note that the term "verbunkos" is not only used to describe the music for dances specifically referred to as verbunkos but is also used more broadly to describe other types of music.
In summary, verbunkos is a genre of Hungarian dance music that originated in the 18th century and was initially played at recruitment ceremonies to entice young men to join the army. It features energetic dances and specific musical characteristics that have made it a distinctive part of Hungarian musical tradition
A Hungarian dance with elements of Gypsy violin playing and rhythm. It has several sections, each with a specific tempo.
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