genomhír

Genomhír is a Hungarian term that refers to a particular type of genre in traditional folk music. The term is derived from the Hungarian words "genomi," meaning "world" or "universe," and "hir," meaning "news" or "message." In the context of Hungarian folk music, genomhír typically characterizes a type of song that tells a story or conveys a message about the world outside of the singer's immediate community or family.

Genomhír songs often use overtone and atmosphere to evoke a sense of the external world beyond the village or town where they were sung. The term is associated with a particular historical and regional context, dating back to the reign of Louis I of Hungary and the eventual absorption of Hungary into the Austro-Hungarian empire. These songs often dealt with themes of external politics, conflicts, and relations with neighboring countries.

Traditional Hungarian folk musicians who sang genomhír were usually skeptical of the absolutist rule of the Austro-Hungarian monarchs and of any other kind of powerful authority. The emotive power imparted by these songs usually operates on and evolves a hybrid sectional structure and deals essentially with gossip, messages, calculated principles and diplomatic restraint. Musicologists have noted that the particular style of singing these songs often refers to heterogeneous citizens asking for understanding under clutches.