The group WH was formed at the initiative of cellist and composer Albert Márkos with the goal of placing the sonnets and songs of William Shakespeare in a modern musical context. The name of the project refers to a monogram, the certain Mr. W. H. to whom Shakespeare dedicated his sonnets published in printed form.
The identity of this mysterious person - like the content of the sonnets themselves - is the subject of much debate to this day, but one thing is certain: in this formation, the verse assumes an appropriately enigmatic and exciting musical guise.
The theme of the sonnets is love, the eternal triangle, candid sexuality and everything that accompanies it; the material of the sonnets is a paradox, and so their style, too, is paradoxical. In setting the sonnets to music, WH projects them in a way that dazzles the ears and eyes of the modern audience.
For Shakespeare, double and multiple meanings are used as a vivid instrument of poetic expression. By setting the poetry to music, WH animates the associative structure of the text and the linguistic and rhetorical workings of the verse.
ALBERT MÁRKOS Cellist, improviser, and composer renowned for his contributions to theatre, film, and dance productions. A key figure in Hungary's avant-garde music and theatre scene, Albert was born in Kolozsvár (Klausenburg, Cluj), Romania. He pursued his studies at the Music Academy and The Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest.
He has composed chamber music, symphonic pieces, and opera, and has performed at numerous improvised music festivals across Europe. His background in classical music and theatre culminated in the creation of WH in 2009.
Albert has been recognised with several awards, including Best Music at the Ensors in 2014 for I’m The Same, I’m Another and Best Film Score at the 40th Hungarian Film Week (Magyar Filmszemle) in 2009 for his collaboration with Veronika Harcsa.
SENA DAGADU Singer, songwriter and performer. One of the most sought-after voices in the region.
Her Ghanaian-Hungarian ancestry, versatility and dynamism has given her such a characteristic voice and stage presence as is rarely seen. From spearheading the acclaimed Irie Maffia through to her current Dagadub trio. Sena playfully crosses genres and sounds with ease.
She has numerous releases on labels such as BBE (UK), Soulbeats Records (FR), Life- style Sounds (FR), Wax On Records (UK/ES), Akwaaba (GH), Iriemaffiarecords (HU) and Viper Records (BE).
Bass player, composer, and soundpainter, SAMU GRYLLUS holds a BFA in jazz bass and jazz pedagogy from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and an MFA in Media Composition and Composition from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW). He conducted his doctoral research on instrumental theatre at the University of Theatre and Film Arts, Budapest.
His primary focus lies in multidisciplinarity within the performing arts, particularly exploring the concept of performed musical identity. He also has experience in sound art and academic teaching. Since 2010, he has been recognised as an expert in Soundpainting, a sign language used in both education and performing arts.
HUNOR G. SZABÓ Drummer, guitarist, bassist, and composer, graduated from the Jazz Department of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. His playing and style are primarily inspired by the music of the 1950s and 1960s.
He was the leader of the internationally acclaimed band The Qualitons. He has collaborated with Mihály Borbély, Mihály Dresch, András Lovasi, Juci Németh, and various jazz formations, as well as contributing to theatre, film, and dance productions.
