Tulipan
Encyclopedia
Tulipan is a Brisbane-based Hungarian fusion band who were active from 1993 to 2000.
Virag Antal, founder of the group, learned to play the traditional folk instruments hurdy gurdy
, zither
and cimbalom or hammered dulcimer
while at school in Hungary. It is a still rarity to see these instruments performed in Australia. She started the group in 1993 at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music
among fellow students as a project. Before long the group started receiving requests to play other shows, and so began Tulipan's sudden rise in popularity. They were hot favourites at Brisbane's renowned indie-music nightclub, The Zoo, performing several sell-out shows at the venue. The band toured the east coast of Australia extensively and were a highly sought after act at many Australian music festivals including Livid
, Big Day Out
and WOMADelaide
. They were regular special guests at Woodford Folk Festival
.
Traditional hungarian melodies and folk instruments fused with other musical influences such as world music, jazz and pop created Tulipan's unique sound. Paul Petran, Music Deli presenter for ABC Radio National said that Tulipan "sound like no other band in Australia at the moment".
Virag Antal left Tulipan in 1999, marking the end of the band's steady success.
. That year also saw Tulipan win second place at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
's Best World Music Band competition in Finland, as well as Triple J's Unearthing the World competition.
Virag Antal, founder of the group, learned to play the traditional folk instruments hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
, zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
and cimbalom or hammered dulcimer
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
while at school in Hungary. It is a still rarity to see these instruments performed in Australia. She started the group in 1993 at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University was originally an independent tertiary-level institution, called the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.-History:...
among fellow students as a project. Before long the group started receiving requests to play other shows, and so began Tulipan's sudden rise in popularity. They were hot favourites at Brisbane's renowned indie-music nightclub, The Zoo, performing several sell-out shows at the venue. The band toured the east coast of Australia extensively and were a highly sought after act at many Australian music festivals including Livid
Livid
Livid was an Australian alternative rock music festival held annually from 1989 to 2003. Masterminded by Peter Walsh and Natalie Jeremijenko, the original idea of showcasing both the arts and music in the one event was standardised as late as October/early November from 1991 until 2003...
, Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
and WOMADelaide
WOMADelaide
WOMADelaide is an annual world music and dance festival, which was first held in 1992 in Botanic Park, Adelaide, South Australia as part of the WOMAD series of music festivals. WOMAD events are a showcase of different sorts of music, arts and dance. They encourage people to experience the music of...
. They were regular special guests at Woodford Folk Festival
Woodford Folk Festival
The Woodford Folk Festival is an annual music festival held near the small country town of Woodford, 72 km north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the biggest annual cultural events of its type in Australia....
.
Traditional hungarian melodies and folk instruments fused with other musical influences such as world music, jazz and pop created Tulipan's unique sound. Paul Petran, Music Deli presenter for ABC Radio National said that Tulipan "sound like no other band in Australia at the moment".
Virag Antal left Tulipan in 1999, marking the end of the band's steady success.
Releases and awards
Tulipan released an EP "Red Moon" in 1996, and the full length album "Manic Celeste" in 1997, which was then re-released by Festival Records in 1998. Manic Celeste was nominated for Best World Music album at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998ARIA Music Awards of 1998
The 12th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 20 October 1998 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre...
. That year also saw Tulipan win second place at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival , celebrated yearly in July in Kaustinen, Finland, is the biggest folk music and dance festival in the Nordic countries. It was first celebrated in 1968....
's Best World Music Band competition in Finland, as well as Triple J's Unearthing the World competition.