archived; moved to flamesofesmeralda

REVENANT - (n) One who has returned, as if from the dead.

REVENANT - (n) One who has returned, as if from the dead.

REVENANT - (n) One who has returned, as if from the dead.

REVENANT - (n) One who has returned, as if from the dead.

REVENANT - (n) One who has returned, as if from the dead.

REVENANT - (n) One who has returned, as if from the dead.

János Donát: Portrait of János Bihari, Composer and G**sy Virtuoso Hungary, 1820 Oil on canvas, 57,8 x 47,5 cm Historical Picture Gallery, Hungarian National Museum, Budapest

Fine Arts in Hungary: http://www.hung-art.hu/supporth/viewer/z.html

(The text on the painting translates to “Bihari, Orpheus among the Hungarian g**sies”.)

János Bihari (October 21, 1764 - April 26, 1827) was an influential Hungarian Romani violinist and composer. He is one of the founders of Romani academic music and the musical genre „verbunkos”.

Bihari was born into a Romani family in Nagyabony; his father was a violinist. In 1801, living in Pest, Bihari created an orchestra of 1 cimbalist and 4 violinists. This orchestra became popular soon and visited with Bihari many towns in Hungary and abroad. He probably visited Wienna too, where several printed editions were published of his works, and Ludwig von Beethoven listened to him playing several times. In these years, he lived a restless, wanderer-life, travelling across Hungary. In every country he visited Janos learnt local folk and academic music and arranged it to play during his performances. Bihari was so popular that he could live like a noble man: he had expensive clothes and a servant who held Bihari’s violin, he stayed in luxurious hotels, etc. He was also invited to play for the Emperor of Austria.

In 1820, he was playing in Budapest, these years were the highlight of his carrier. In 1822 Franz Liszt listened to him playing and praised him. (“The tones sung by his magic violin flow on our enchanted ears like the tears…”) From 1823, his carrier had begun slowly declining. In 1824 he broke his arm in an accident, impairing his ability to perform. Subsequently, his popularity declined, and he died in poverty in Pest.

Bihari left 84 musical compositions (verbunkos) that are considered to be classic, although some of these are not authentic. His melodies were used by such composers as Franz Liszt, Ludwig van Beethoven, Pablo de Sarasate and others.