Marián Varga (29 January 1947 – 9 August 2017) was a Slovak musician, composer and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...

Biography

He played the piano from the age of six. He studied piano and composition at the conservatory in Bratislava. He left the conservatory after three years to become a member of the group Prúdy, and contributed to the legendary album '' Zvoňte zvonky''. He left Prúdy as suddenly as he had left conservatory only to establish the first Czechoslovak

art rock Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that generally reflects a challenging or avant-garde approach to rock, or which makes use of modernist, experimental, or unconventional elements. Art rock aspires to elevate rock from entertainment to an art ...

band

Collegium Musicum The Collegium Musicum was one of several types of musical societies that arose in German and German-Swiss cities and towns during the Reformation and thrived into the mid-18th century. Generally, while societies such as the (chorale) cultivate ...

. The repertoire of Collegium Musicum, comprising mostly instrumental pieces, included reinterpretations of the themes of classics such as

Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have le ...

Béla Bartók Béla Viktor János Bartók (; ; 25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century; he and Franz Liszt are regarded as Hun ...

and

Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (6 April 1971) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor, later of French (from 1934) and American (from 1945) citizenship. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the ...

, complemented by original compositions. Already at this stage his work bore signs of postmodernism (Eufónia of the album Konvergencie), which later became the basic principle of his work. When Collegium Musicum disbanded in 1979, Varga started a solo career. Among other achievements, he became a pioneer of absolute improvisation (real-time composition) in Slovakia. In the meantime he continued to contribute to popular music. His ongoing collaboration with Pavol Hammel led to five successful albums and to the first rock musical in Slovakia.

Discography

with Prúdy

*1968: '' Zvoňte, zvonky''

Collegium Musicum

*1970: "

Hommage à J.S.Bach Collegium Musicum was a Slovak art rock / progressive rock band formed by Marián Varga and Fedor Frešo in Czechoslovakia in late 1969, best known for their complex, predominantly instrumental compositions centred around Varga's keyboards/organ, ...

/ Ulica plná plášťov do dažďa" (SP) *1971: ''Collegium Musicum'' *1971: ''

Konvergencie ''Konvergencie'' ( en, Convergence) is the second album by Collegium Musicum (Marián Varga), Collegium Musicum, released on OPUS Records, OPUS in 1971. Track listing - Original LP LP 1 LP 2 Credits and personnel * Marián Varga - hammond ...

'' *1973: ''Collegium Musicum Live'' *1975: ''Marián Varga & Collegium Musicum'' *1978: ''Continuo'' *1979: '' On a Ona'' *1981: ''Divergencie'' *1997: ''Collegium Musicum '97'' (Live)

with Pavol Hammel

*1972: ''Zelená pošta'' *1976: ''Na II. programe sna'' (along with Radim Hladik) *1978: ''Cyrano z predmestia'' *1989: ''Všetko je inak'' *1993: ''Labutie piesne''

with Vladimír Merta

*1992: ''Cestou k ... Stabil - Instabil''

Solo albums

*1984: ''Stále tie dni'' *2003: ''Solo in Concert'' (Live) *2006: ''Marián Varga & Moyzesovo kvarteto''

Anthology

*2006: ''Hommage à Marián Varga''

Awards

* Hall of Fame ZAI Award – Grand Prix * Aurel Award – Lifetime Achievement *

Pribina Cross Slovakia has a system of orders and decorations for citizens who do great deeds for the country. With the exception of the Order of the White Double Cross, all the orders are reserved for Slovak citizens. Below is a list of national decorations, ...

– 2nd Class

References

External links

www.marianvarga.sk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varga, Marian 1947 births 2017 deaths People from Skalica Slovak musicians Czechoslovak Big Beat groups and musicians Recipients of the Pribina Cross