Ökrös Csaba- In Loving Memory

This is a tribute to Ökrös Csaba. A Hungarian folk musician and teacher at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Ökrös Csaba was born in Szolnok, Hungary on June 17th, 1960. He played the violin from youth, and developed high interest in traditional folk music, especially from Transylvania.

After participating in multiple Táncház events, and working with other folk musicians and mentors from local Hungarian villages, Csaba founded the Újstílus Ensemble in 1980 with Antal Fekete, Adorján István, and Pénzes Géza. In 1982, he and the Újstílus band earned the "Young Masters of the Folk Art- Folk Music". Eventually, they toured in the United States of America. Later in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ökrös Csaba left Újstílus and continued his focus in Transylvania, where he constantly studied from his mentor, Fodor "Neti" Sándor, a violinist from the village of Méra, located in the Kolozs county of Transylvania (Kalotaszeg). During this time, he founded the Ökrös Ensemble along with his dear friends, Kelemen László, Márta Sebestyén, and Berecz András. In the years to come, the Ökrös Ensemble produced many traditional Hungarian folk albums. Ökrös Csaba also worked in other genres of music. Right before his death, he was awarded the Liszt Ferenc Prize on March 13th, 2019.

There is so much more to say about Ökrös Csaba and his works. Especially with what he has done in contribution to the realm of Folk Music.

Rest in Peace, Ökrös Csaba. You will be missed dearly...

Songs:
1). Bevezetés (Invirtita/Forgatós)

2). Ritka Magyar (Slow Hungarian), Pair Dances: Cigánycsárdás (Gypsy Csárdás), Csingerálás (Fast Csárdás)

3). A Szép Visszatérő (Beautiful Refrain)

Album:
1). Bonchida, Háromszor (1998)
2). Transylvanian Village Music From Gypsy, Hungarian And Romanian Tradition (1999)

Band Members:
Lead Violin- Ökrös Csaba
Vocal- Szalóki Ági
2nd Violin- Molnár Miklós
Viola- Kelemen László
Viola- Mester László
Double BasDoór Róberts-
Cimbalom: Balogh Kálmán