He was born in Petrilaca de Mureș on 18 May 1937. He is to be admired as one of the most brilliant violinists in the Mureș River Valley, and possibly even Transylvania. He was born into a community of musicians, having been taught the violin since childhood. His first teacher was his father, Csiszár János, who used to play in villages around Târgu Mureș. After his early passing, he was taught by the best fiddler in the village, Lunka “Bolond” [Madcap] Jóska. At nine years of age, he was already playing independently at weddings in a band, accompanied by the “seasoned” players of the time (dulcimerist Rácz Samu and cellist Rácz Lukács). Later, he formed his own band.
After the changes in 1989, he is a regular guest at “Táncház” events and folk music camps in Hungary as a tradition bearer and musician, and from 1999, a violin teacher at the “Marosszéki Népzene- és Néptánctábor” [Trei Scaune Folk Music and Folk Dance Camp]. Both younger folk violinists and professionally recognised folk musicians consider him a master and a role model. He is a musical figure acclaimed not only in his native village, but, following his European and American tours, worldwide as well. His articulation as well as his bowing are in keeping with the style of the countryside, yet his distinctive and firm intonations and diverse and distilled ornamentation set him apart from the musicians of the area, and even from Hungarian café and restaurant musicians. He received the Master of Folk Art prize in 2014. Read more about his life and work at http://nepmuveszetmesterei.hu. Listen to his music at https://bit.ly/3BlyGDC
We bow our heads in his memory; may he rest in peace!