Greeting the Autumn with Military Music

The bandsmen went on stage for the first time in the program series of the Vásárhely Autumn Weeks. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the leadership of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Gen. Tibor Benkő, the Chief of the MoD Defence Staff opened the performance of military bands on the Southern Hungarian Great  Plain. Also present were in the applauding audience Lt.-Gen. József Kovács, the commander of the HDF Joint Force Command, Brig.-Gen. Dr. Gábor Böröndi, the commander of the HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Imre Lamos, the commander of the HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base and Col. József Kovács, the deputy commander of the Bocskai Brigade and the garrison commander of Hódmezővásárhely.

The role and significance of military music has changed a lot so far: military bands have become an integral part of military diplomacy and international military cultural relations, being regular participants in national and international meetings. The first military musical festival in Hungary was arranged in Debrecen in 1977, but only the “big" bands participated in that year. Afterwards, however, the circle of invited bands widened, and the initiative turned into a tradition.