Lajos Bárdos
Encyclopedia
Lajos Bárdos was a composer, conductor, and professor of music at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
. Together with Zoltán Kodály
, he laid the foundations of 20th-century Hungarian choral music. From 1928 to 1967 he was a professor at the Academy, where he reformed the syllabus, emphasizing the training of choral conductors, the teaching of church music history, and instruction in music theory
and prosody
. In 1931 he co-founded the publishing company Magyar Korus, and served as editor of the musical periodical of that name from then until 1950, when it was banned. From 1934 he organized the "singing youth" movement, encouraging young people across Hungary to join choral groups and learn the basics of music.
Through his work as a conductor Bárdos raised the standards of Hungarian choral singing to an international level within decades. He directed several choirs and encouraged the development of choral activity in remote areas of the country. His repertory was pioneering: he included choral music from before Palestrina
, especially those of Josquin
, and promoted new music (he introduced, for example, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms
into Hungary). His own compositions also draw on Renaissance polyphony and Hungarian folk music, following in the tradition of Bartók and Kodály.
Bárdos' work as a musicologist included major studies of Gregorian
melody, modal and Romantic harmony, and the analysis of works by Liszt
, Bartók and Kodály. His lectures at the Academy were attended by a wide range of students, including György Ligeti
, who took the unusual step of regularly attending Bárdos' lectures while they were both teaching at the Academy. Ligeti later credited Bárdos' lectures with having an influence on his own compositions.
Together with other students of Kodály, Bárdos also helped to develop what later came to be known as the Kodály Method
of musical training.
"Lajos Bárdos Music Week" has been an annual festival in Hungary since 1977.
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
The Franz Liszt Academy of Music is a concert hall and music conservatory in Budapest, Hungary, founded on November 14, 1875...
. Together with Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
, he laid the foundations of 20th-century Hungarian choral music. From 1928 to 1967 he was a professor at the Academy, where he reformed the syllabus, emphasizing the training of choral conductors, the teaching of church music history, and instruction in music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and prosody
Prosody (music)
In music, Prosody is the way the composer sets the text of a vocal composition in the assignment of syllables to notes in the melody to which the text is sung. For example, a songwriter might align downbeats or accents with stressed syllables or important words....
. In 1931 he co-founded the publishing company Magyar Korus, and served as editor of the musical periodical of that name from then until 1950, when it was banned. From 1934 he organized the "singing youth" movement, encouraging young people across Hungary to join choral groups and learn the basics of music.
Through his work as a conductor Bárdos raised the standards of Hungarian choral singing to an international level within decades. He directed several choirs and encouraged the development of choral activity in remote areas of the country. His repertory was pioneering: he included choral music from before Palestrina
Palestrina
Palestrina is an ancient city and comune with a population of about 18,000, in Lazio, c. 35 km east of Rome...
, especially those of Josquin
Josquin Des Prez
Josquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...
, and promoted new music (he introduced, for example, Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms
Symphony of Psalms
The Symphony of Psalms by Igor Stravinsky was written in 1930 and was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This piece is a three-movement choral symphony and was composed during Stravinsky's neoclassical period. The symphony derives...
into Hungary). His own compositions also draw on Renaissance polyphony and Hungarian folk music, following in the tradition of Bartók and Kodály.
Bárdos' work as a musicologist included major studies of Gregorian
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
melody, modal and Romantic harmony, and the analysis of works by Liszt
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
, Bartók and Kodály. His lectures at the Academy were attended by a wide range of students, including György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
, who took the unusual step of regularly attending Bárdos' lectures while they were both teaching at the Academy. Ligeti later credited Bárdos' lectures with having an influence on his own compositions.
Together with other students of Kodály, Bárdos also helped to develop what later came to be known as the Kodály Method
Kodály Method
The Kodály Method, also referred to as the Kodály Concept, is an approach to music education developed in Hungary during the mid-twentieth century by Zoltán Kodály...
of musical training.
"Lajos Bárdos Music Week" has been an annual festival in Hungary since 1977.