Zoltán Gárdonyi
Encyclopedia
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musicologist. He taught at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
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...
for 26 years.
Life and work
Gárdonyi was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. His mother, the pianist Maria Weigl, studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
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...
with Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
's pupil, István Thomán
István Thomán
István Thomán was a Hungarian piano virtuoso and music educator. He was appointed by Franz Liszt to teach at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest . István Thomán was a notable piano teacher, with students including Ernő Dohnányi, Georges Cziffra, and Béla Bartók...
, at the same time as Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
. At the age of 17, Gárdonyi began his studies in composition 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....
at the Academy. After studying with Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
and Arnold Schering
Arnold Schering
Arnold Schering was a German musicologist.He grew up in Dresden as the son of an art publisher. He learned violin at the Annengymnasium from which he graduated in 1896. Thereafter he studied violin at the Berlin School of Music under Joseph Joachim...
in Berlin, he worked as a professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music from 1941 until 1967. He also led the faculty for Protestant sacred music until the Academy was closed by the communists in 1949.
His oeuvre includes sacred music, orchestral works and chamber music. Three of his motets for choir a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
were published in German by Schott
Schott Music
Schott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
, "Finnisches Busslied", "Der Herr ist mein Hirte" (Psalm 23
Psalm 23
In the 23rd Psalm in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the writer describes God as his Shepherd. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, is often alluded to in popular media and has been set to music....
) and "Singet dem Herren" (Psalm 96
Psalm 96
Psalm 96 is one of the psalm in the biblical Book of Psalms. One of the Royal Psalms, Psalm 93-99, praising God as the King of His people.-Judaism:*Is the second paragraph of Kabbalat Shabbat....
). Gárdonyi's musicological research yielded findings related to Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
. His works were published in Germany, Sweden and the United States. Gárdonyi lived in Germany with his family beginning in 1972. He died in Herford
Herford
Herford is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford.- Geographic location :...
a few weeks after his 80th birthday.
His son is the composer and concert organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Zsolt Gárdonyi
Zsolt Gárdonyi
Zsolt Gárdonyi is a German-Hungarian composer, organist and music theorist. He is the son of Zoltán Gárdonyi.-Professional career:...
.
Performances and recordings
Some of Gárdonyi's works were recorded, including three organ sonatas and the Partita sopra Veni Creator Spiritus, played by Dezső Karasszon, and Szvit-regi stilusban (Suite No. 1 in old style). The Partita is a symphonic work, introduction (Largo), theme (Lento), four variations and finale (Allegro maestoso), based on Martin LutherMartin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's melody "Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist".
Publications
- Struttura della uga in Johann Sebastian Bach, Publisher: RicordiCasa RicordiCasa Ricordi is a classical music publishing company founded in 1808 as G. Ricordi & Co. by violinist Giovanni Ricordi in Milan, Italy...
, ISMN: 9788875924706 - Elemző formatan (December 1963), Publisher: Editio Musica Budapest, ISMN: M080039953
Editions
Zoltán Gárdonyi edited the Hungarian RhapsodiesHungarian Rhapsodies
Hungarian Rhapsody redirects here. For the 1979 Hungarian film Hungarian Rhapsody . For the 1928 German film Ungarische Rhapsodie.The Hungarian Rhapsodies, S.244, R106, is a set of 19 piano pieces based on Hungarian folk themes, composed by Franz Liszt during 1846-1853, and later in 1882 and 1885...
by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
for the Editio Musica Budapest.
Selected works
Orchestral- Serenade No. 2 for string orchestra (1957)
Concertante
- Concerto for clarinet and orchestra (1942, 1982)
- Drei Bilder zur Karwoche (Three Images of Holy Week) for organ and string orchestra (1966)
-
- Der Gang an den Ölberg (Walk to the Mount of OlivesMount of OlivesThe Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
) - GethsemaneGethsemaneGethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem most famous as the place where, according to Biblical texts, Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion.- Etymology :...
- GolgathaCalvaryCalvary or Golgotha was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity...
- Der Gang an den Ölberg (Walk to the Mount of Olives
Chamber music
- Zwei leichte Stücke (Two Easy Pieces) for violin and piano
-
- Reigen (Körtánc)
- Mädchentanz (Leánytánc)
- Könnyű hegedű-duók (Easy Violin Duos) for two violins
- Fantasie über ein ungarisches geistliches Lied (Fantasy on a Hungarian Hymn) for violin and organ
- Rondo capriccioso for violin and piano (1941)
- Sonata for cello and piano (1944)
- Sonata for tuba and piano (1948–1951)
- Sonata No. 2 for viola and piano (1950)
- Két kis rapszódia (Two Little Rhapsodies; Zwei kleine Rhapsodien) for cello and piano (1954)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1954)
- Fantasie for oboe and piano (1956)
- Sonata "Il serioso ed il giocoso" for double bass and piano (1957)
- Sonatina for clarinet and piano (1959)
- Sonata for flute and piano (1960)
- Woodwind Quintet (1961)
Organ
- Sonata secunda (1947)
- Partita sopra Veni creator spiritusVeni Creator SpiritusVeni Creator Spiritus is a hymn believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. It is normally sung in Gregorian Chant and often associated with the Roman Catholic Church, where it is performed during the liturgical celebration of the feast of Pentecost...
(1958) - Weihnachtswiegenlied (Christmas LullabyLullabyA lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
; Christmas Cradle Song; Karácsonyi bölcsődal) (1937) - Psalm-Fantasie über die französische Melodie des 107. Psalmes (Fantasy on Psalm 107Psalm 107Psalm 107 is a psalm in the biblical book of Psalms. Written by King David, this psalm is a song of thanksgiving to God, who has been merciful to his people and gathered all who were lost. It is beloved of mariners due to its reference to ships and the sea Psalm 107 (Greek numbering: 106) is a...
, Geneva Psalter) (1976) - Drei Choralbearbeitungen (Three Chorale preludeChorale preludeIn music, a chorale prelude is a short liturgical composition for organ using a chorale tune as its basis. It was a predominant style of the German Baroque era and reached its culmination in the works of J.S. Bach, who wrote 46 examples of the form in his Orgelbüchlein.-Function:The liturgical...
s)
-
- Ein feste BurgA Mighty Fortress is Our God"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527 and 1529. It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages...
- Mit Freuden zart
- Finnisches Bußlied
- Két praeludium (Two Preludes; Zwei Präludien)
- Meditatio in memoriam Zoltán KodályZoltán KodályZoltán 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....
(Meditation in Memory of Zoltán Kodály) - Postludium
- Praeludium et fuga
- Ein feste Burg
Piano
- Könnyű szonatina (Easy Sonatina; Leichte Sonatine) (1952)
- Fünf Klavierstücke nach ungarischen Volksliedern (Five Pieces after Hungarian Folk Songs) for piano 4-hands
- Zöld erdőben, zöld mezőben (Green Woods, Green Fields), 15 Hungarian Folk Songs for piano 4-hands
Vocal
- Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Rilke (Five Songs on Poems by Rilke) for soprano and piano (1940–1941); words by Rainer Maria RilkeRainer Maria RilkeRené Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke , better known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian–Austrian poet. He is considered one of the most significant poets in the German language...
Choral
- Lobgesang nach Psalm 45 (Dicsérő ének; Song of Praise: Psalm 45Psalm 45Psalm 45 is the 45rd psalm from the Book of Psalms. It was written by the sons of Korach, on the Shoshanim ....
) for mixed chorus, string orchestra and organ (1960, 1981) - Adeste fideles for mixed chorus and organ (1974)
- Drei Motetten (Three Motets) for mixed chorus a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
-
- Psalm 96Psalm 96Psalm 96 is one of the psalm in the biblical Book of Psalms. One of the Royal Psalms, Psalm 93-99, praising God as the King of His people.-Judaism:*Is the second paragraph of Kabbalat Shabbat....
- Finnisches Bußlied
- Psalm 23Psalm 23In the 23rd Psalm in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the writer describes God as his Shepherd. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, is often alluded to in popular media and has been set to music....
- Drei biblische Kanons (Three Biblical CanonCanon (music)In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower...
s) for equal voices - Du schöner Lebensbaum (You beautiful tree of life) for mixed chorus a cappella
- Danklied der Erlösten (Psalm 107Psalm 107Psalm 107 is a psalm in the biblical book of Psalms. Written by King David, this psalm is a song of thanksgiving to God, who has been merciful to his people and gathered all who were lost. It is beloved of mariners due to its reference to ships and the sea Psalm 107 (Greek numbering: 106) is a...
) (Song of praise of the saved ones) for mixed chorus a cappella - Ende September (End of September) for mixed chorus a cappella; words by Sándor PetőfiSándor PetofiSándor Petőfi , was a Hungarian poet and liberal revolutionary. He is considered as Hungary's national poet and he was one of the key figures of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848...
, German words by Walter Radetz - Isten a mi oltalmunk: 46. Zsoltár (Psalm 46Psalm 46Psalm 46 is the 46th psalm from the Book of Psalms, composed by sons of Korah.-Uses:Portions of the psalm are used or referenced in several Jewish prayers. Verse 8 is the ninth verse of V'hu Rachum in Pesukei Dezimra, and is also a part of Uva Letzion. Verse 12 is part of Havdalah...
: God Is Our Refuge) for mixed chorus a cappella
- Drei biblische Kanons (Three Biblical Canon
- Psalm 96
Literature
- Lavonne Harris: "A biography of Zoltán Gárdonyi and analyses of organ, string, and choral works", 356 pages, University of Oklahoma, 1992
External links
- Works edited by Zoltán Gárdonyi at the International Music Score Library ProjectInternational Music Score Library ProjectThe International Music Score Library Project , also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a project for the creation of a virtual library of public domain music scores, based on the wiki principle...
- Zoltán Gárdonyi official website by his son Zsolt GárdonyiZsolt GárdonyiZsolt Gárdonyi is a German-Hungarian composer, organist and music theorist. He is the son of Zoltán Gárdonyi.-Professional career:...
- Gárdonyi Zoltán: Works and books by Zoltán Gárdonyi, Editio Musica Budapest