Hungary has made many contributions to the fields of folk, popular and classical music. Hungarian folk music is a prominent part of the national identity and continues to play a major part in Hungarian music. The Busójárás carnival in Mohács is a major folk music event in Hungary, formerly featuring the long-established and well-regarded Bogyiszló orchestra. Instruments traditionally used in Hungarian folk music include the citera, cimbalom, cobza, doromb, duda, kanászkürt, tárogató, tambura, tekero and ütőgardon. Traditional Hungarian music has been found to bear resemblances to the musical traditions of certain countries within the neighbouring Balkans and the Caucasus.
Louis Thomas Hardin, known professionally as Moondog, was an American composer, musician, performer, music theoretician, poet and inventor of musical instruments. Largely self-taught as a composer, his prolific work widely drew inspiration from jazz, classical, Native American music which he had become familiar with as a child, and Latin American music. His strongly rhythmic, contrapuntal pieces and arrangements later influenced composers of minimal music, in particular American composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
Géza Lakatos de Csíkszentsimon was a colonel general in the Hungarian Army during World War II who served briefly as Prime Minister of Hungary, under governor Miklós Horthy from 29 August 1944, until 15 October 1944.
The Bolla Quartet is a jazz band based in Hungary.
Roby Lakatos is a violinist from Hungary who combines jazz, classical, and Hungarian Romani music.
Paul Abraham was a Jewish-Hungarian composer of operettas, who scored major successes in the German-speaking world. His specialty – and own innovation – was the insertion of jazz interludes into operettas.
Rick Margitza is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.
Csaba Deseo is a Hungarian jazz violinist born in Budapest.
Peter John O'Mara is an Australian-born jazz guitarist, composer, teacher and author. He has been based in Germany since late 1981.
Levente Egry is a Hungarian performing artist, composer, producer, performer, and pianist. He is the holder of the last Hungarian Diamond Record for over 100,000 records sold in Hungary. He started a classical-crossover project, Sentimental Piano Concert. After an early career in classical music, and acclaim as a jazz and pop artist, now he is now pursuing a career as a classical composer and pianist.
Tommy Vig is a percussionist, arranger, bandleader, and composer.
Attila László is a Hungarian jazz guitarist and composer. László is one of the leaders of Hungary's second generation of jazz musicians, which includes Lakatos, Dés, Kőszegi, and Pege. He was president of the Hungarian Jazz Federation (1999–2005) and performed with Anthony Jackson, Randy Brecker, James Moody, David Friedman, Gary Willis, Bob Mintzer, Peter Erskine, Hiram Bullock, Miroslav Vitous, Ilaiyaraaja, Russell Ferrante, and Jimmy Haslip. Laszlo won the Golden Cross of Merit prize.
Viktor Tóth, alto saxophonist, composer and orchestra leader, has been awarded Jazz Musician of the Year several times. One of the top figures of the young generation of the contemporary Hungarian jazz scene, his performance style bridges styles, is improvisation-centred, "soaring" and filled with spirituality.
Georgina Kanizsa, also known as Gina Kanizsa (born 28 April 1988, Szolnok) is a Hungarian jazz singer and performer, most notable for participating in A Dal 2017.
Gary Barone was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist.
Gyula Babos was a Hungarian jazz guitarist.
Gismo Graf is a German jazz musician.
Jo Thönes is a German percussionist, Jazz drummer and composer.
Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, also known by the mononyms Szakcsi or Sa-Chi, was a Hungarian jazz pianist, keyboardist, arranger and composer.
