Under communism, the state attempted to homogenize the musical heritage of the satellite nations into manageable uniformity. In Hungary, people were actually told that they had no real music of their own.  But in opposition, young Hungarian musicians started filtering into Transylvania, in Romania, where a large Hungarian population still lived the village life that had been stamped out elsewhere. They collected songs, brought them back to Hungary and started a vibrant folk renaissance, called the Tanchaz (dance house) movement. Transylvania means 'across the forest' so this documentary is aptly named as it follows two members of Hungary’s most famous folk band, Muzikás, as they gather songs from villages near and far. There are brilliant performances from virtuoso folk musicians, playing for weddings, harvests, and various rites of passage, showing the relationship of Transylvanian music to every stage of life itself.

To own the music of Transylvanian villages, visit the Link TV Music Store.