''Psalmus Hungaricus'', Op. 13, is a choral work for tenor, chorus and orchestra by

Zoltán Kodály Zoltán Kodály (, ; , ; 16 December 1882 – 6 March 1967) was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, music pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is well known internationally as the creator of the Kodály method of music education. ...

, composed in 1923. The Psalmus was commissioned to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the unification of

Buda Buda (, ) is the part of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, that lies on the western bank of the Danube. Historically, “Buda” referred only to the royal walled city on Castle Hill (), which was constructed by Béla IV between 1247 and ...

, Pest and

Óbuda Óbuda (, ) is, together with Buda and Pest, one of the three cities that were unified to form the Hungarian capital city of Budapest in 1873. Today, together with Békásmegyer, Óbuda forms a part of the city's third district, although the to ...

for a gala performance on 19 November 1923 along with the '' Dance Suite'' by

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 Hunga ...

, and the ''Festival Overture'' by

Ernő Dohnányi Ernő or Erno is a Finnish language, Finnish and Hungarian language, Hungarian masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: *Ernő Balogh (1897-1989), Hungarian pianist, composer, editor, and educator *Ernő Bánk (1883-1962), Hunga ...

, who conducted the concert. The work's first performance outside Hungary took place under

Volkmar Andreae Volkmar Andreae (5 July 1879 – 18 June 1962) was a Swiss conductor and composer. Life and career Andreae was born in Bern. He received piano instruction as a child and his first lessons in composition with Karl Munzinger. From 1897 to 1900, ...

in Zürich on 18 June 1926. This marked a turning point in the international recognition of Kodály as a composer, beyond his renown as an ethnomusicologist and music educator.

Background

The text is based on the gloss of

Psalm 55 Psalm 55 is the 55th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version, "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication". The Book of Psalms forms part of the ketuvim, the third section of the ...

, "Give ear to my prayer, oh God", by 16th-century poet, preacher, and translator . Uncommonly, Kodály chose a sacred text to mark a secular occasion; the libretto's passages of despair and call to God provide opportunities for the composer to address Hungary's tragic past and disastrous post- Trianon Treaty predicament, when it lost over 70% of its national territory. The music reflects the nation's crisis during and after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(the partition of the historical Hungary), and the text draws a parallel between the sorrows of

King David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Damas ...

and the suffering of the

Magyars Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common culture, language and history. They also have a notable presence in former parts of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian language belongs to the ...

Ottoman Hungary Ottoman Hungary () encompassed the parts of the Kingdom of Hungary which were under the rule of the Ottoman Empire from the occupation of Buda in 1541 until the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. The territory was incorporated into the empire, under ...

. Thus, the ''Psalmus Hungaricus'' encompasses two and a half millennia of political distress.

Description

At the beginning of the first movement, a terse orchestral prelude yields quickly to a brief subdued choral entry. The solo tenor follows closely with the rhapsodic aria, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove". After the first tenor solo section, the chorus responds with a brief, gentle passage, but the tenor reacts vehemently, indicting those sinners who plot the downfall of innocents. This provokes a wordless female choral lamentation, and their cries joined by the tenor's part propel the work to the climactic choral assertion that "God shall hear, and afflict them". A dramatic monologue sung by the tenor ensues, continuing nearly to the movement's finale, when the chorus erupts. The second movement follows ''attacca'' without pause, in a contrasting pensive mood, featuring extended solos for clarinet and violin, over a shimmering undercurrent of harp and

pizzicato Pizzicato (, ; translated as 'pinched', and sometimes roughly as 'plucked') is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of instrument: * On bowe ...

strings. The tenor returns with a lyrical, yearning aria, "But reassure my heart", which combines fervor and tenderness. The final movement primarily features the entire chorus, alternating sounds of martial bombast with words of defiance. The work ends with a hushed prayer. Although Kodály never literally quotes Hungarian folk songs in ''Psalmus'', he integrates folklike

pentatonic A pentatonic scale is a Scale (music), musical scale with five Musical note, notes per octave, in contrast to heptatonic scales, which have seven notes per octave (such as the major scale and minor scale). Pentatonic scales were developed inde ...

motifs with plagal cadences that combine to make this music an intense national experience for generations of Hungarians. One of Kodály's genuine masterworks, ''Psalmus Hungaricus'' has rarely been performed or recorded outside of Hungary.

Discography

* Gabor Carelli, North Texas State College Chorus and

Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District, Dallas, Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra tr ...

Antal Doráti Antal Doráti (, , ; 9 April 1906 – 13 November 1988) was a Hungarian-born conductor and composer who became a naturalized American citizen in 1943. Biography Antal Doráti was born in Budapest to a Jewish family. His father Alexander Do ...

, cond., recorded 5 January 1949, RCA Victor DM 1331, issued May 1950; issued on CD by the Doráti Society, coupled with a Kodály rarity, Jesus and the Traders *

Ernst Haefliger Ernst Haefliger (6 July 191917 March 2007) was a Swiss tenor. Biography Haefliger was born in Davos, Switzerland, on 6 July 1919 and studied at the Wettinger Seminary and the Zürich Conservatory. Later he became a pupil of Fernando Carpi in ...

, Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin,

Ferenc Fricsay Ferenc Fricsay (; 9 August 1914 – 20 February 1963) was a Hungarian conductor. From 1960 until his death, he was an Austrian citizen. Biography Fricsay was born in Budapest in 1914 and studied music under Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, Ern ...

, cond., 1959 (Deutsche Grammophon) (in German). * József Simándy, Musikaliska Sällskapet Chorus and Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Doráti, cond., live recording 16 December 1967, BIS CD 421–424, issued January 1988 * József Simándy, Hungarian State Radio Chorus and Hungarian State Orchestra, Antal Doráti, cond., recorded 24–27 September 1968 (Hungaroton). * Lajos Kozma, Brighton Festival Chorus,

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

, István Kertész, cond., 1970 (Decca). * Janos B. Nagy, Hungarian Radio Chorus and Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Arpad Joó, cond., 1982 (Arts Music). * Daroczy, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Sir

Georg Solti Sir Georg Solti ( , ; born György Stern; 21 October 1912 – 5 September 1997) was a Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor, known for his appearances with opera companies in Munich, Frankfurt, and London, and as a long-servi ...

, cond., 1998 (London). * Nilsson, Raymond, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus anos Ferencsik, Conductor 1989 (Priceless CD D25335)(also Everest Records SDBR-3022)* * Sir Charles Mackerras. Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

Background

Description

Discography

References

Further reading