The volume titled "Eritis mihi testes": Recordings of the 1938 Budapest International Eucharistic Congress published in collaboration between OSZK and BTK ZTI won The Best Discography Award of ARSC

The Hungarian and English bilingual publication includes studies by two researchers from BTK ZTI, Ferenc János Szabó and Marietta B. Kaskötő, as well as a list of the preserved sound recordings and their content on CD. The compilation, digitization and restoration of the sound recordings were performed by the professionals of OSZK, Franciska Dede, Boglárka Illyés and Ákos Solymosi, in collaboration with Ferenc János Szabó, a scientific fellow of the 20th-21st Century Hungarian Music Archive at BTK ZTI, who was also the editor of the volume.

By reading the studies presented in the volume that showcases the 34th International Eucharistic Congress held in Budapest in 1938 and listening to the accompanying audio materials, we can get a glimpse into the atmosphere of the event. The authors also placed great emphasis on the illustrations, enriching the publication with an abundant visual compilation. Sheet music, posters, record labels and photographs add color to the holistic representation created by the studies and musical memories.

Three types of sound recordings have preserved the events of the congress. The commercially released Radiola gramophone records supported the preparations, the studio recordings made in the Hungarian Radio and edited on discs enriched the historical recordings of the Radio's Sound Museum, while the private recordings of live radio broadcasts saved on lacquer discs and x-ray foils captured a snapshot of the atmosphere of the congress. The archival audio documents of the 1938 event were made public for the first time in 2021, the year of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, also held in Budapest.

ARSC’s Best Discography award represents significant international recognition for Hungarian music historians and music librarians, and it is considered a unique achievement in the field of Hungarian sound recording history research.

The official press release and the complete list of awardees can be found on ARSC’s website.