Museum of Ethnography opens exhibition in Central Park, New York

Organized by the Liszt Institute New York and the Museum of Enthnography in Hungary an informative exhibition called "Gypsy music from Ferenc Liszt to the Hungarikums” will be shown in Central Park on April 9, 2024 celebrating the influence of Gypsy music in Hungary as well as International Roma Day.

The starting point of this exhibition is Franz Liszt's book A czigányokról és a czigány zenéről Magyarországon published in Hungarian in 1861, or more precisely the part of it beginning from section LXVII devoted specifically to Gypsy music. The subject is presented along two lines: music and dance, that is, through the history of music and dance and through portrayal in the fine arts.

The exhibition traces the history of Gypsy bands and famous musicians up to the present day: from village bands to ensembles that have toured abroad, and from the formation of large orchestras to the declaration of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra as a Hungarian "bridge". It also describes how musicians form a closed occupational group, endogamous for a long time, and how they develop a specific, unique set of customs.