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KORMORÁN

Prog Folk • Hungary


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Kormorán picture
Kormorán biography
Founded in Hungary in 1976

KORMORÁN is the most popular folk-rock band in Hungary and probably one of the most prolific bands in the world - their discography counts about 30 studio albums, while the whole number of records made with the band's participation is now close to 100.

KORMORÁN uses in their music elements of Hungarian, Mid- and East European folk. There are traditional songs, songs written by the band to their own lyrics and to the verses of different Hungarian poets (Sándor Petőfi (1823 - 1849), József Attila (1905 - 1937) and many others). But song-oriented albums is only one side of KORMORÁN music. The band released numerous rock operas, cantatas, oratotiums and movie soundtracks. Orchestras, choirs, guest singers and musicians are often involved in such projects.

KORMORÁN was founded in 1976 by flute and wind instruments player and composer Gergely Koltay (b. 1952, Budapest Conservatory and Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music graduate), permanent band's leader from the start to this day. The group released a couple of singles in 1978, came through some line-up changes and only in 1984 KORMORÁN debut album, ''Folk & Roll'' saw the light of day. It was a mature work and its title characterizes the music well - a unique combination of folk motiffs and real rock power was (and still is) the band's trademark. Several guest musicians took part in this record and played guitars, sax, Hammond organ, violin and other electric and acoustic instruments. The album was warmly received by listeners, many songs from ''Folk & Roll'' became KORMORÁN classics and are played in concerts till now.

In the 80's KORMORÁN tours Hungary and some European countries, releases albums in their homeland, live album in Holland and the album of songs with English lyrics, ''Cross Talks'' (1987), in Czechoslovakia.

Nevertheless the end of the decade, due to political and social changes, was a hard time for many East European bands. KORMORÁN was no exception, the future of the band was uncertain:
''So it was in 1988.
Is the legend living? The Kormorán's legend. We live in another world, songs sing of something else, melodies speak of something different, reality forces everybody into a different situation.
We are devoured - there is no time for songs, there is no time for the "dead peacock", there is no time for holy chants - the hussars' time is over.
What comes then? Who knows? The next prophet does.'' (from linear notes to '...
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KORMORÁN discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

KORMORÁN top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.04 | 9 ratings
Folk & Roll
1984
4.50 | 2 ratings
Betlehemi királyok (Christmas songs and poems) (OST)
1985
5.00 | 1 ratings
Anyámnak (Versek és dalok) / My Mother (Poems and Songs)
1987
4.50 | 2 ratings
Cross Talks
1987
3.00 | 2 ratings
Szerelmes énekek / Love Songs
1987
4.00 | 2 ratings
Magyar rapszódia / Hungarian Rhapsody
1988
4.67 | 3 ratings
A költő visszatér / The Poet Returns (Rock opera)
1988
5.00 | 1 ratings
A betlehemi csillag üzenete (kantáta)
1989
4.50 | 2 ratings
Rockuiem
1990
5.00 | 1 ratings
Julianus (OST)
1991
5.00 | 1 ratings
Elektra mindörökké / Electra Forever (Rock opera, OST)
1995
5.00 | 1 ratings
Honfoglalás / The Conquest (OST)
1996
5.00 | 1 ratings
1848 (Tribute to the Revolution)
1998
5.00 | 1 ratings
Kelj fel, Petőfi... / Wake Up, Petőfi... (Fragrments from rock opera ''Zúgjatok harangok, 1848'')
1998
5.00 | 1 ratings
Húzd a harangot (In memoriam Nagygéc) (Ring the Bell)
1999
4.33 | 3 ratings
A Megfeszített / The Crucified (Rock opera)
2000
4.00 | 2 ratings
Magyar Passió / Hungarian Passion (Oratorio)
2001
5.00 | 1 ratings
A reménység temploma
2001
5.00 | 1 ratings
Tiltott dalok, tiltott hangszereken
2001
4.00 | 2 ratings
Sacra Corona / Sacred Crown (OST)
2001
5.00 | 1 ratings
Táltosok fiai / Sons of Shamans
2002
5.00 | 1 ratings
A szeretet hídja
2002
4.50 | 2 ratings
Istenem magyar volt, szóljon aki látta / My God Was Hungarian
2003
5.00 | 1 ratings
A forrás felé / Approaching the Source
2003
5.00 | 1 ratings
Szkafander
2004
0.00 | 0 ratings
A lovak álma / The Dream of Horses
2004
3.00 | 1 ratings
A székelyek szentje (Etűdök Kőrösi Csoma Sándor emlékére)
2005
0.00 | 0 ratings
Magyarnak lenni hivatásunk / Being Hungarian Is Our Calling
2005
3.00 | 1 ratings
Emlékek / Memories
2005
3.00 | 1 ratings
A Napba öltözött leány (Rock opera)
2006
0.00 | 0 ratings
Szamárlázadás
2007
0.00 | 0 ratings
Kapuk / Gates
2007
0.00 | 0 ratings
Játék Karácsonykor
2007
3.33 | 3 ratings
Gáspár Álmos: Bálványosvár Legendája / The Legend of Bálványos Castle
2008
0.00 | 0 ratings
Farkasok éneke / Wolf's Song
2008
0.00 | 0 ratings
Adjátok vissza a hegyeimet! (OST)
2008
0.00 | 0 ratings
Fények között (With Edit Farkasinszky and Róbert Gergely)
2009
0.00 | 0 ratings
Tüzek előtt, tüzek után
2009
0.00 | 0 ratings
Magyar kettős
2010
0.00 | 0 ratings
Vadkert fehérben
2012
3.00 | 1 ratings
Angyalok énekei
2013
0.00 | 0 ratings
Engedj magadhoz
2014
4.20 | 5 ratings
Titkok könyve
2015
0.00 | 0 ratings
Hazádban nem lehetsz idegen
2016

KORMORÁN Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 1 ratings
Live In Holland
1985
0.00 | 0 ratings
Kormorn a klubban
1996
0.00 | 0 ratings
Gödöllői koncert
2001
0.00 | 0 ratings
Válaszúton (Hommage a Wass Albert)
2004
0.00 | 0 ratings
Kormorán koncert - Világok világa Magyarország
2004
0.00 | 0 ratings
Magyarnak számkivetve
2005
0.00 | 0 ratings
Torockó, 2015. Június 6.
2015
0.00 | 0 ratings
Adventi koncert - Lámpás emberek
2016
0.00 | 0 ratings
Kell még egy szó - Negyven éves a Kormorán
2017
0.00 | 0 ratings
Új időszámítás (2018. December 21. Duna Palota Színházterem)
2019

KORMORÁN Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Elektra mindörökké / Electra Forever (Rock opera)
1995
0.00 | 0 ratings
A Megfeszített / The Crucified (Rock opera)
2000
0.00 | 0 ratings
Gödöllői koncert
2001
0.00 | 0 ratings
Világok világa Magyarország. Kormorán koncert 2004
2004
0.00 | 0 ratings
Magyarnak számkivetve
2005
0.00 | 0 ratings
A Megfeszített / The Crucified (Rock opera, 2005 version)
2005
0.00 | 0 ratings
A Napba öltözött leány (Rock opera)
2006
0.00 | 0 ratings
30 Év 30 dalban (Jubileumi koncert á Kőrcsarnokban 2006 december 23)
2007
0.00 | 0 ratings
Farkasok éneke / Wolf's Song Live
2009
5.00 | 1 ratings
A költő visszatér / The Poet Returns (Rock opera)
2010
0.00 | 0 ratings
Mennyből az angyal - koncert 2009.12.22
2010
0.00 | 0 ratings
Koltay Gergely '60 - Ki szívét osztja szét - Kormorán exkluzív születésnapi koncert
2012
0.00 | 0 ratings
Jubileumi Hangverseny - 2011. július 15. New Orleans Klub
2012
0.00 | 0 ratings
Karácsonyi koncert 2013
2014
0.00 | 0 ratings
Torockó, 2015. Június 6.
2015
0.00 | 0 ratings
Adventi koncert - Lámpás emberek
2016

KORMORÁN Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Kiáltó szó (Magyar Szabadság napja)
2000
0.00 | 0 ratings
A sámán szerelme
2000
0.00 | 0 ratings
Jöjjön el a Te országod / Thy Kingdom Come
2002
0.00 | 0 ratings
Magyar ballada (With Miklós Varga)
2003
0.00 | 0 ratings
Világok Világa Magyarország
2004
4.00 | 1 ratings
Harminc év legjobb dalaiból (Best of Kormorán)
2006
0.00 | 0 ratings
Lámpás emberek (2010-2015)
2015
0.00 | 0 ratings
Összegyűlnek álmaink
2016
0.00 | 0 ratings
Sólyomszárnyak
2016

KORMORÁN Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Kormorán
1978
0.00 | 0 ratings
Nyújtsd kezed / Ujra kell kezdeni mindent
1985
0.00 | 0 ratings
Közelednek az ünnepek (Christmas Maxi-single)
1998
0.00 | 0 ratings
Hová indulsz? Hová térsz?
2004
0.00 | 0 ratings
Ave Maria
2015
0.00 | 0 ratings
Piros a vér a Pesti utcán
2016
0.00 | 0 ratings
Itt élned, halnod kell
2016
0.00 | 0 ratings
Új időszámítás
2018

KORMORÁN Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Live In Holland by KORMORÁN album cover Live, 1985
4.00 | 1 ratings

BUY
Live In Holland
Kormorán Prog Folk

Review by NotAProghead
Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team

— First review of this album —
4 stars ''Live In Holland'' was my first KORMORÁN purchase and I was pleasantly surprised. I can't say I was blown away, but after listening to this album it became clear to me that this band is something special and I want to get at least some of their other records. Being familiar with music of some Hungarian bands and artists I, probably subconsciously, felt that I miss something, namely powerful rock band with deep national roots. Finally I've found what I was searching for in KORMORÁN music.

''Live In Holland'' offers a good musical variety. There are Balkan tunes (''Macedon Express''), Hungarian folk in most pieces and even reggae rhythm in ''Adjon az Isten'' (''May the Lord Provide''). And all these ingredients have strong rock base. Flute parts obviously remind me of JETHRO TULL, though I have no idea whether Ian Anderson was an inspiration for Gergely Koltay. Vocals are not extraordinary (in my opinion the band has better singers in 2000s), but good for the songs. Anyway KORMORÁN have their own sound, and I can say the sound is powerful.

The track list is also interesting, there are only 3 tracks from the band's debut album ''Folk & Roll'', 1 song from 1982 rock opera ''Kőmíves Kelemen'' (first big record made with KORMORÁN participation) and 6 then, in 1985, new songs. These new songs, especially ''Kedvesem'' (''My Sweetheart'') which begins like a ballad and ends as a fiery dance with sparkling violin solo, became KORMORÁN classics, we can listen to their initial versions on this live album.

My only complaint is needless 2-second gaps between songs on CD (I have not heard the LP). But in general the album (by the way, the only live record made by KORMORÁN in the 80s) fully deserves your attention.

 Folk & Roll by KORMORÁN album cover Studio Album, 1984
4.04 | 9 ratings

BUY
Folk & Roll
Kormorán Prog Folk

Review by NotAProghead
Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team

4 stars Back then, in the 60s and 70s, Hungary had a strong rock movement (though only few bands like OMEGA and, in lesser degree, LOCOMOTIV GT became known outside the Eastern Bloc). And Hungary has rich folk traditions. KORMORÁN were probably the first who combined these parts in absolutely natural, organic way.

Founded in 1976, the band released a couple of singles, took part in ''Kőműves Kelemen'' rock opera, came through some line-up changes and only in 1984 released their first LP ''Folk & Roll''. The title says it all: folk traditions and rock power. In many ways it was a revolutionary record. ''Folk & Roll'' defined the band's future sound for many years, most of these songs became classics and were re-recorded, live and in studio, by different KORMORÁN line-ups. Many of them are played in concerts till now. And, last but not least, songs are memorable.

This album does not contain long epics, but songs are quite complex in structure, have good contrasts between lighter and heavier parts, the interplay between acoustic (violin, flute, bagpipes, Turkish pipe) and electric rock instruments is masterful. There is a lot of things to discover with each new listen.

The release of ''Folk & Roll'' made it evident that a unique band, powerful, versatile and at the same time very Hungarian in nature, was born. Personally I prefer some later KORMORÁN records, but nothing would be possible without this short (by today's standards) album. Essential part of the band's discography. Highly recommended.

Thanks to snobb for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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