I'm baffled by all the people saying this is good writing. This is self-indulgent, showoff writing by someone who cannot maintain a consistent voice. If you liked it, give the credit to Béla Bartók, who provided the topic that held your interest, and to the Transylvanians who have conserved and preserved an ethnic culture that provides endless fascination.

If you found this interesting, I recommend Kirk's newer book on his traipsing around Transylvania, etc... called "Avoid the Day" (https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/avoid-the-day_jay-kirk/2130934...)

Which day.

Very well-written article. Thank you for posting.

I recommend playing the Third String Quartet (https://youtu.be/K7yfyIDdDBk?t=21) at the same paragraph the author mentions it. Really helps visualize the "chimera."

as someone who is from this region, thank you ! I had no idea.

Yeah that was great :-) how unexpectly refreshing.

Now that’s a good piece of writing.

As my partner is pretty much from that area, I really appreciate this small excursion from the typical topics on HN. Especially the small things, like the foods and the palinka :)

"... he wandered the countryside on one of his peasant-hunting expeditions". Grissly hobby or article needed better reviewing.

I believe he was indeed, in a sense, hunting peasants.

the meaning is explained in the next sentence

"...Bartók walking in the park one day with his wife, when a big wasp flies past — zzzzzzzzzzt — and, either fearful of the bug or just testing her husband’s entomological savvy, she says, “Béla, what was that?” And he goes: “G-sharp.”"

Correct answer would have been bee flat.

Especially after you swat the bee

"Yeah okay Béla I get it you got absolute pitch, sheesh..."