HSJR BSIN02030133

Vukán, George - Dunapalota Ragtime

The scores edited by Géza Gábor Simon as in the “Rags of The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy”, issued in two volumes.
24 Tracks. Digitally recorded Nov. 1992 at the Hungarian Radio Studio 6, Budapest.

RAGS OF THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN MONARCHY
The coloured and white performers came from the 1860s to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, mostly to Vienna & Budapest, with their vaudeville, spasm band, spiritual, cake walk and ragtime performances and paved the way for the local acceptance of jazz.
According to some recollections, mostly oral, duringthe period 1910s in many amusement halls of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, some pianists cameinto the limelight playing ragtime, cake walk and two step numbers.
We do not know of the private music publications of ragtime pieces issued single or in limited number, even by a search of contemporary periodicals. Also, we should realise thaI there were many abuses concerning the word "ragtime". Equally, hundreds of numbers were labelled as "two step", "one step" or "foxtrot" when they should really have carried the title "ragtime" or vragtime-like".
As for local composers, we have yet to collect many examples of their works,which will be mainly Irom the era of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. These pieces will need to be listened to without prejudice to decide whether they are worthy of inclusion. Here we make note that, after the end of World War One, a ragtime revival began in Hungary. One reason that contributed to this was that, although many pieces had been composed before and during the war, there was no way 'in which they could be published. It is, therefore, advisable to examine closely all the compositions appearing in theAustro-HungarianMonarchy(in later times: Austria & Hungary) from the end of the last century to about the mid-or late twenties.
Pianist George Vukan was born in Budapest, Hungary August 21, 1941. He got his degree in piano at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Mnsic in 1960. He has had numerous piano concert appearances, mostly jazz. His creativity has led him to take on a role as pioneerto revive ragtime authors and themes of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
The recordings of this CD in the greatest nnmber of cases: first recordings!
Geza Giibor Simon
Bibliography: Géza Gábor Simon: The Book of Hungarian Jazz
(Budapest, November 1992)
Price: 17,90 EUR