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Please support our blacksmith video projects with $19 and get a download link to our video ‘Blacksmith Music’.
Rhythm is of immense importance in all areas of life, and the operation of the entire universe is inconceivable without rhythm. If we look at human existence, even our biological existence works according to rhythms, but in the most important human activity – work – rhythm is paramount. If we look at the fact that the most different works were accompanied in ancient times by different rhymes, singing, chanting and drumming – especially in the case of group work, we can also say that in forging – which was the first work that became a craft – the rhythm is absolutely paramount. It has a role. In the case of group forging, this importance is further enhanced, because if the blacksmiths do not work at the same rhythm, the work becomes disordered and even an accident can occur. Interestingly, the musical effects, rhymes and rhythms related to work were researched and processed by many ethnographers, but the rhythms of forging were not studied very much. To our knowledge, Antal Békefy was the only music teacher, composer and music researcher to write a more thorough study of this. Based on his research in the 1970s, he wrote his study, Rhythms and Sound Signals of Blacksmiths. In this he summarized the results of his research. He immortalized it for posterity with sheet music and sound recordings. We are now trying to do the same job in motion. With this work we want to pay tribute to the memory of Antal Békefy. Comparing our own experiences with our collections, we try to present the rhythmic games of the musical effects of forging. A well-known saying is that one blacksmith is not a blacksmith, two blacksmiths are half a blacksmith and three blacksmiths are one blacksmith. This means that things can only be forged really well with three blacksmiths.
Artist Blacksmiths:
Zolán Elek
Péter Molnár
Attila Német
Antal Szekeres
Film concept and narration by
ZOLTÁN TAKÁTS,
Hungarian artist blacksmith was born in Pécs, Hungary in 1949. He graduated as a goldsmith from the Pécs High School of the Arts in 1968. Having worked as an apprentice for a blacksmith, he became an agricultural blacksmith in 1970. In 1972 he built his own studio and workshop in Pilisborosjenő, where he continues to work to this day.
In 1974 he received the title of Young Master of Folk Art and then the title of Master of Folk Art in 1980. Since 1986 he has been a member of the Hungarian Artists’ Association. He is a founding member, and from 1992 to 2019 the guild master of the Hungarian Blacksmith Guild.
Since 2006 he has been a member of the Folk Art Evaluation Committee. As part of a commission from the National Institute of Vocational Education, the Chamber of Industry and the Ministry of Education he has written educational materials for the basic and advanced courses and their respective exams on the subject of ornamental blacksmithing. He has taken part in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Hungary and in several European cities since 1971. When not exhibiting alone, his wife, the goldsmith Ágnes Bartha, primarily joins him.
ZOLTÁN TAKÁTS
The video was supported by Csoóri Sándor Alap (Funds for cultural heritage projects, Hungary)
Thank you for your contribution!
Keeping the blacksmith traditions alive has always been the primary aim of the Hungarian Blacksmith Guild. In Hungary not only has vocational training for the blacksmiths ceased to exist, but this profession has also been removed from the official list of occupations. Some might say that this noble profession, dating back more than 4000 years, is virtually dying. As a result, it is up to those handful enthusiasts who cultivate the blacksmith profession and those with ardor interest for the trade to reverse this judgement.
This is why we decided to make educational videos. We want to help those who are not only interested, but are willing to make an effort and learn this beautiful yet difficult profession. In our films we present you the tricks of the trade: what it takes to get from the basics to the master level. We have put together an easy-to-follow, step by step guide that anyone can follow. If you acquire the basic tools, devote enough time, effort and energy to these forging exercises, you will attain the lore of the blacksmith.
We truly appreciate the amazing support of several blacksmith associations, blacksmith colleagues and non-blacksmith friends worldwide for our previous blacksmith video projects. We’re truly honoured.
Education Center of Austrian Federal Office for Monuments Care, Mauerbach
Black Bear Forge – John Switzer
Artistic Anvil – Travis C. Fleming
Artist Blacksmith’s Association of Finland
Jim and Nicholas Archambault – Elite Custom Ironworks
Eric O’Neill – Killuragh Kraftworks
Russel Jones – Santa Cruz Gates
The Devil’s Blacksmith documentary
