Zoltán Gárdonyi (; 25 April 1906 – 27 June 1986) was a Hungarian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

and

musicologist Musicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, f ...

. He taught at the

Franz Liszt Academy of Music The Franz Liszt Academy of Music (, often abbreviated as ''Zeneakadémia'', "Liszt Academy") is a music university and a concert hall in Budapest, Hungary, founded on November 14, 1875. It is home to the Liszt Collection, which features several ...

for 26 years.

Life and work

Gárdonyi was born in

Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...

. His mother, the pianist Maria Weigl, studied at the

with

Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic period. With a diverse body of work spanning more than six decades, he is considered to be one of the most pro ...

's pupil,

István Thomán István Thomán (; 4 November 186222 September 1940) was a Hungarian piano virtuoso and music educator. He was a notable piano teacher, with students including Béla Bartók, Ernő Dohnányi, Paul de Marky who later taught Oscar Peterson in Quebe ...

, at the same time and in the same class as

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 ...

. At the age of 17, Gárdonyi began his studies in composition with

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. ...

at the Liszt Academy in Budapest. After studying with

Paul Hindemith Paul Hindemith ( ; ; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German and American composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major advo ...

and

Arnold Schering Arnold Schering (2 April 1877 in Breslau, German Empire – 7 March 1941 in Berlin) was a German musicologist. He grew up in Dresden as the son of an art publisher. He learned violin at the from which he graduated in 1896. Thereafter he studied ...

in Berlin, he taught as a professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest from 1941 until 1967. He also led the faculty for Protestant sacred music until it 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 Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

were published in German by Schott, "Finnisches Busslied", "Der Herr ist mein Hirte" (

Psalm 23 Psalm 23 is the 23rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "The Lord is my shepherd". In Latin, it is known by the incipit, "". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and ...

) and "Singet dem Herren" (

Psalm 96 Psalm 96 is the 96th psalm of the Book of Psalms, a hymn. The first verse of the psalm calls to praise in singing, in English in the King James Version: "O sing a new song unto the Lord". Similar to Psalm 98 ("Cantate Domino") and Psalm 149, ...

). Gárdonyi's musicological research yielded findings related to

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...

and

. His works were published in Germany, Hungary, Sweden and the United States. Gárdonyi lived in Germany with his family beginning in 1972. He died in Westfalian

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 situated in the cultural region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) and the Detmold (administrat ...

a few weeks after his 80th birthday. His son is the composer and concert

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

Zsolt Gárdonyi.

Performances and recordings

Some of Gárdonyi's works were recorded, including his three organ sonatas and the ''Partita sopra Veni Creator Spiritus'', played by Dezső Karasszon, as well as several further organ works and German motets. The ''Partita'' is a symphonic organ composition, consisting of the following mouvements: introduction (Largo), theme (Lento), four variations and finale (Allegro maestoso), based on

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

for

Pentecost Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christianity, Christian holiday which takes place on the 49th day (50th day when inclusive counting is used) after Easter Day, Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spiri ...

"".

Publications

*''Elemző formatan'' (1949, 1963, 1979, 1990), Publisher: Editio Musica Budapest, ISMN: M080039953 *''J.S.Bach ellenpont-művészetének alapjai'' (1967), Publisher: Editio Musica Budapest *''J.S.Bach kánon- és fúgaszerkesztö művészete'' (1972), Publisher: Editio Musica Budapest

Editions

Zoltán Gárdonyi edited the '' Etudes'' and the ''

Hungarian Rhapsodies The Hungarian Rhapsodies, S.244, R.106 (, , ), are a set of 19 piano pieces based on Hungarian folk themes, composed by Franz Liszt during 1846–1853, and later in 1882 and 1885. Liszt also arranged versions for orchestra, piano duet and pia ...

'' by

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

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 Olives The Mount of Olives or Mount Olivet (; ; both lit. 'Mount of Olives'; in Arabic also , , 'the Mountain') is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem, east of and adjacent to Old City of Jerusalem, Jerusalem's Old City. It is named for the olive, olive ...

) :#

Gethsemane Gethsemane ( ) is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, where, according to the four Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus Christ underwent the Agony in the Garden and was arrested before his crucifixion. The garden is ...

:# Golgatha Chamber music * ''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) * ''Zwei leichte Stücke'' (Two Easy Pieces) for violin and piano (1954, 1956) :# Reigen (Körtánc) :# Mädchentanz (Leánytánc) * Two Little Rhapsodies (Zwei kleine Rhapsodien) for cello and piano (1954) * String Quartet No. 3 (1954) * Third Little Rhapsodie (Dritte kleine Rhapsodie) for violin, cello and piano (1955) * ''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) * ''Fantasie über ein ungarisches geistliches Lied'' (Fantasy on a Hungarian Hymn) for violin and organ (1968) Organ * ''Weihnachtswiegenlied'' (Christmas

Lullaby A lullaby (), or a cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music that is usually played for (or sung to) children (for adults see music and sleep). The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies, they are used to pass down cultural knowl ...

; Christmas Cradle Song; Karácsonyi bölcsődal) (1937) * ''Tanulmányok harmóniumra'' (Studies for Harmonium) (1944) * ''Partita sopra

Veni creator spiritus ''Veni Creator Spiritus'' (Latin: Come, Creator Spirit) is a traditional Christian hymn believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus, a ninth-century German monk, teacher, archbishop, and saint. When the original Latin text is used, it is norma ...

'' (1958) * ''Psalm-Fantasie über die französische Melodie des 107. Psalmes'' (Fantasy on

Psalm 107 Psalm 107 is the 107th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew ...

, Geneva Psalter) (1976) * ''Sonata tertia'' (1983) * ''Drei Choralbearbeitungen'' (Three

Chorale prelude In music, a chorale prelude or chorale setting is a short liturgical composition for pipe organ, organ using a chorale tune as its basis. It was a predominant style of the German Baroque music, Baroque era and reached its culmination in the works ...

s) :# Ein feste Burg :# Mit Freuden zart :# Finnisches Bußlied * ''Zwei Präludien'' (Two Preludes) * ''Meditatio in memoriam

'' (Meditation in Memory of Zoltán Kodály) * ''Postludium'' Piano * ''Könnyű szonatina'' (Easy Sonatina; Leichte Sonatine) (1952) * ''Fünf Klavierstücke nach ungarischen Volksliedern'' (Five Pieces after Hungarian Folk Songs) for piano 4-hands * ''Fünfzehn ungarische Volkslieder'' (15 Hungarian Folk Songs) for piano 4-hands Vocal * ''Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Rilke'' (Five Songs on Poems by

Rainer Maria Rilke René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was an Austrian poet and novelist. Acclaimed as an Idiosyncrasy, idiosyncratic and expressive poet, he is widely recognized as ...

) for soprano and piano (1941) Choral * ''Lobgesang nach Psalm 45'' (Dicsérő ének; Song of Praise: Psalm 45) for mixed chorus, string orchestra and organ (1960) or for mixed chorus and organ (1981) * ''Adeste fideles'' for mixed chorus and organ (1974) * ''Drei Motetten'' (Three Motets) for mixed chorus

:# Finnisches Bußlied :#

* ''Drei biblische Kanons'' (Three Biblical

Canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the material accepted as officially written by an author or an ascribed author * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western canon, th ...

s) for equal voices * ''Du schöner Lebensbaum'' (You beautiful tree of life) for mixed chorus a cappella * ''Danklied der Erlösten (

)'' (Song of praise of the saved ones) for mixed chorus a cappella * ''Ende September'' (End of September) for mixed chorus a cappella on a poem by

Sándor Petőfi Sándor Petőfi ( []; né Petrovics; ; ; 1 January 1823 – most likely 31 July 1849) was a Hungarian poet and Classical Liberalism, liberal revolutionary. He is considered Hungary's national poet, and was one of the key figures of the Hungari ...

, German words by Walter Radetz * ''God Is Our Refuge'' (

Psalm 46 Psalm 46 is the 46th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin ...

Isten a mi oltalmunk: 46. Zsoltár) for mixed chorus a cappella

Literature

* Lavonne Harris: "A biography of Zoltán Gárdonyi and analyses of organ, string, and choral works", 356 pages, University of Oklahoma, 1992 * Anne Beloncik Schantz: "An examination of text reflection and imaginery in Zoltán Gárdonyi´s FÜNF LIEDER NACH GEDICHTEN VON RAINER MARIA RILKE", 37 pages, University of North Texas, 2014 * Dezső Karasszon: "Zoltán Gárdonyi", 32 pages with complete work list, Budapest 2001, Mágus Publishing

References

External links

* Works edited b
Zoltán Gárdonyi
at the

International Music Score Library Project The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a subscription-based digital library of public-domain music scores. The project uses MediaWiki software, and ...

Zoltán Gárdonyi
official website by his son Zsolt Gárdonyi
Gárdonyi Zoltán:
Works and books by Zoltán Gárdonyi, Editio Musica Budapest {{DEFAULTSORT:Gardonyi, Zoltan Hungarian composers Hungarian male composers Academic staff of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music Composers for piano 1906 births 1986 deaths Musicians from Budapest 20th-century Hungarian composers 20th-century Hungarian musicologists Pupils of Paul Hindemith 20th-century Hungarian male musicians