The faster sections adopt a characteristic syncopated rhythm. The piece recalls the two-part slow-fast structure of the traditional verbunkos music: it opens with a slow introduction moving to a clarinet cadenza and andante maestoso section, followed by four fast dance sections. The clarinet is particularly prominent, representing the traditional tárogató (a type of single-reed instrument). He took five of these and arranged them in one continuous movement for orchestra. It is scored for two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets in A, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, timpani, triangle, glockenspiel, snare drum, and string orchestra. Remembering the songs and dances of his school friends at Galnta he turned to a book of Hungarian gypsy dances published in Vienna in 1800 which included some dances after several gypsies from Galnta. Music ĭances of Galánta is in five sections, lasting a total of about 16 minutes. Kodály saw the piece as a 'sequel' to his 1927 piano suite (later orchestrated) Dances of Marosszék. Most of the pieces used were of the verbunkos style – originally developed as military recruiting music, but generalizing to a Hungarian folk tradition in the early 1800s.

The composer remarked: 'At that time there existed a famous Gypsy band.This was the first 'orchestral' sonority that came to the ears of the child.About 1800 some books of Hungarian dances were published in Vienna, one of which contained music 'after several Gypsies from Galánta'.the composer has taken his principal themes from these old publications'. It is based on folk music of Galánta (now part of Slovakia), where Kodály lived for several years. The piece was composed on commission for the 80th anniversary of the Budapest Philharmonic Society. What happens next is a beautiful flurry of acrobatic attacks, grabs, and throws that look less like youre playing a game and more like a highlight reel of the worlds coolest martial arts moves.

Dances of Galánta ( Galántai táncok) is a 1933 orchestral work by Zoltán Kodály. You stand alone in a gladiator-stye arena surrounded by dozens of barbaric mercenaries that came to kick some ass-your ass.

Kodaly galanta dances imslp