Born: 1882, Kecskemét, Hungary
Died: 1967, Budapest, Hungary

"I would advise my young colleagues, the composers of symphonies, to drop in sometimes at the kindergarten, too. It is there that it is decided whether there will be anybody to understand their works in 20 years' time."

Zoltán Kodály did much to bridge the gap between Hungarian folk music and the European art music tradition. Brought up in the country, he knew folk music from childhood and also learned to play the piano and string instruments, and to compose, all without much training. In 1905 he began his collaboration with Bartók collecting and transcribing folksongs. His major works, notably the comic opera Háry János, the Psalmus hungaricus, the Peacock Variations, and the Dances of Marosszék and Galánta draw on Magyar folk music. He was the impetus for the music education system called the Kodály Method - a comprehensive approach to musicianship still often used around the world with all age groups.

Further listening:

Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7 (1914)
Nigel Kennedy, Lynn Harrell
(EMI Classics)

Háry János Suite (1927)
Budapest Festival Orchestra,
Iván Fischer (Philips)

12/06