Zoltan Kodaly
| Zoltán Kodály | |
|---|---|
| File:Zoltan-Kodaly-Composer.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Born | December 16, 1882 Kecskemét, Hungary |
| Died | March 6, 1967 Budapest, Hungary |
| Occupation(s) | Composer |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Orchestra violin piano | |
Zoltán Kodály (ˈzoltaːn ˈkodaːj) (born December 16, 1882 in Kecskemét; died March 6, 1967 in Budapest) was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, educator, linguist and philosopher.
Life
Kodály's family moved from their home in central Hungary to Nagyszombat in the north-west part of Hungary where he became proficient at the piano, violin, and cello without any help from formal teachers. In 1898 he wrote an overture for the school orchestra which received good notice – "a dynamic talent"; and after graduation he went to Budapest where he enrolled at the University of Philosophy, and studied Hungarian and German languages and literature. He also took classes at the Academy of Music where he received his Diploma in Composition. From 1900 through 1904, he attended Eotvos College in Budapest and perfected his knowledge of English, French, and German, all the while composing music.
He received his teacher's diploma in 1905 and through a chance meeting became life-long friends of Bela Bartók. At Bartók's urging he went on tour to collect Hungarian folk music. He received his Ph.D. after writing his dissertation on "The Stanzaic Structure of Hungarian Folk Song." Kodály received an appointment as teacher at the Academy of Music in Budapest and continued composing prolifically.
In 1910 Kodály and Bartók put on joint concerts with young musicians. Although critics scorned their efforts, the dates of these concerts are celebrated as the birth of modern Hungarian music. During this time he married Emma Sandor. Sandor was a gifted musician and translator approximately 20 years older than Kodály.
Kodály went to Paris where he studied with Charles Widor. There he discovered, and absorbed influences from, the music of Claude Debussy. He continued his folk music-collecting expeditions through World War I without interruption.
His efforts in the field of ethno-musicology with his countryman, composer Bela Bartok, contributed to the interest in collecting, studying and documenting folk music of indigenous cultures. This aspect of his musical life, along with his concerns about education, was as important as his composing. Through his pioneering efforts in ethno-musicology he fostered a condition conducive to the dissolution of cultural barriers and in so doing, provided a greater understanding of other peoples through music.
Kodály subsequently became very interested in the problems of music education, and wrote a good deal of educational music for schools, as well as books on the subject. Some commentators refer to his ideas as the "Kodály Method".
He continued to compose for professional ensembles also, with the Dances of Marosszék (1930, in versions for solo piano and for full orchestra), the Dances of Galanta (1933, for orchestra), the Peacock Variations (1939, commissioned by the Concertgebouw Orchestra to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary) and the Missa Brevis (1944, for soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ) among his better known works. The suite from his opera Háry János (1926) also became well known, though few productions of the opera take place. It was first performed in Budapest and notable conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Willem Mengelberg, George Szell, Antal Dorati, Fritz Reiner, Erich Leinsdorf, Eugene Ormandy and Wilhelm Furtwangler have included this colorful piece in their repertoires.
Kodály also made a considerable contribution to chamber music, notably a virtuosic sonata for unaccompanied cello, and a half-hour-long Duo for cello and violin.
In 1966, the year before Kodály's death, the Kodály Quartet, a string quartet named in Kodály's honour, was formed.
Selected compositions
- Concerto for Orchestra (1939)
- Trio for 2 Violins and Viola
- Duo for violin & cello, Op. 7 (1914)
- Sonata for solo cello, Op. 8 (1915)
- Missa Brevis for soloists, chorus & organ (1944)
- Laudes organi, for chorus & organ (1966)
- Dances of Marosszék (1930)
- Dances of Galanta (1933)
- Háry János (1926)
- Te Deum (1939)
- Peacock Variations (1939)
- Psalmus Hungaricus (1923)
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Choksy, Lois, "The Kodaly method: comprehensive music education from infant to adult", Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1974. ISBN 0-135-16757-4
- Eosze, Laszlo, "Zoltan Kodaly; his life and work", Boston: Crescendo Pub. Co., 1962. ISBN 0-875-97019-2
- Young, Percy M., "Zoltan Kodaly, a Hungarian musician", London: E. Benn, 1964. OCLC 602162
External links
- "Home Page", The British Kodaly Academy, observed February 23, 2007.
- "Zoltan Kodaly Biography", Universal Edition Composers, observed February 23, 2007.
- Another biography and information about Z. Kodály's teaching methodology and other materials
- educates musicians according to Kodály's practice "The Kodály institute".
- The Organization of American Kodály Educators
- The Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia
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