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If Saturday, then zither music!
In January 2025, the Ethnographic Museum opened an exhibition about the zither, the most beloved folk instrument. Since it is an instrument that can be relatively easily made and played, the curators of the exhibition sought to share this experience with visitors through the nearly 90 instruments, 20 audio recordings and 3 films on display. Not only interactive applications and playable instruments were included in the exhibition, but contemporary zither players bear witness to the fact that the zither music tradition is still alive today.
In connection with the "Vígan zengjetek, citerák!" instrument exhibition, the Ethnographic Museum issued a call to amateur and professional musicians, ensembles, students and teachers who love the zither, so that zither players and orchestras currently active in the Hungarian-speaking territories become visible and heard in the exhibition through a digital map and live zither music. From February 15 to June 28, 2025, the exhibition's own stage hosts concerts every Saturday at 15:00, featuring performances by orchestras participating in the collection campaign. Below you can read their introductions!
Balázs Gál and Bálint Hajnáczki
I'm Balázs Gál Bálint, and I started learning zither in 1993 at the Üllő music school. Two years later, this programme was discontinued, even though we were becoming quite a good little band. After that, unfortunately I couldn't pursue music, and after a break of nearly 30 years, I started playing again. During this time, however, I continuously collected zithers, and by now I have a collection of nearly 40 instruments. Many serve only as decoration due to their age and condition, but I am constantly expanding my collection with playable instruments. I mostly play alone, hoping to find a welcoming orchestra. I met Bálint at an online zither gathering about a year ago. This will be our first time playing together; until now we have only played together in the Zither Pals orchestra, which formed from the online group.
Attendance at this programme requires a ticket purchased for the exhibition.
In January 2025, the Ethnographic Museum opened an exhibition about the zither, the most beloved folk instrument. Since it is an instrument that can be relatively easily made and played, the curators of the exhibition sought to share this experience with visitors through the nearly 90 instruments, 20 audio recordings and 3 films on display. Not only interactive applications and playable instruments were included in the exhibition, but contemporary zither players bear witness to the fact that the zither music tradition is still alive today.
In connection with the "Vígan zengjetek, citerák!" instrument exhibition, the Ethnographic Museum issued a call to amateur and professional musicians, ensembles, students and teachers who love the zither, so that zither players and orchestras currently active in the Hungarian-speaking territories become visible and heard in the exhibition through a digital map and live zither music. From February 15 to June 28, 2025, the exhibition's own stage hosts concerts every Saturday at 15:00, featuring performances by orchestras participating in the collection campaign. Below you can read their introductions!
Balázs Gál and Bálint Hajnáczki
I'm Balázs Gál Bálint, and I started learning zither in 1993 at the Üllő music school. Two years later, this programme was discontinued, even though we were becoming quite a good little band. After that, unfortunately I couldn't pursue music, and after a break of nearly 30 years, I started playing again. During this time, however, I continuously collected zithers, and by now I have a collection of nearly 40 instruments. Many serve only as decoration due to their age and condition, but I am constantly expanding my collection with playable instruments. I mostly play alone, hoping to find a welcoming orchestra. I met Bálint at an online zither gathering about a year ago. This will be our first time playing together; until now we have only played together in the Zither Pals orchestra, which formed from the online group.
Attendance at this programme requires a ticket purchased for the exhibition.
As with other events or in other places, photographs and audio recordings may be made at this event. By entering the event, participants give their prior and explicit consent – without further question – to the recording and publication of their face and appearance as they may be recognizable in these recordings, for example for the purpose of promoting similar future events.
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