Hungary Choral works by Péter Tóth: József Katona Central Library, Kecskemét, Hungary, 12.4.2024. (AK)
Although his compositions are carried out all through the world and he gained a number of necessary prizes all through the a long time, Hungarian composer Péter Tóth’s title will not be but well-known by the general public exterior Hungary. Furthermore, it’s seemingly that, aside from skilled and newbie music practitioners, the general public will not be as conscious of Tóth’s accomplishments as ought to be in Hungary both.
Here is a person with a major compositional output, a critical dedication to arts and data and, lastly, with out explicit curiosity in self-promotion. Now 59 years of age and Dean of the School of Music on the University of Szeged, in his youth Tóth studied percussion and composition, graduating within the latter on the Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest) in 1990. Tóth’s compositions embrace instrumental, orchestral and vocal works; he has additionally composed music for movie and theatre productions. Significantly, lots of his choral items have gained nationwide and worldwide awards. Featuring a few of his choral compositions, Tóth introduced a chat mixed with audio examples in addition to with a stay live performance in Kecskemét.
Approximately 85 kilometres from Budapest, Kecskemét is the birthplace of Zoltán Kodály. Although he was nonetheless a younger little one when his household moved from Kecskemét, the city remained necessary for Kodály all his life. The first Kodály music major faculty in Hungary was established in Kecskemét (1950) and the city nonetheless hosts the by now expanded faculty (major and secondary) in addition to the Kodály Institute which appears to be specializing in catering for overseas college students.
At this Tóth presentation I witnessed Kodály’s long-lasting constructive affect in audio examples carried out by the Kölcsey Choir (Debrecen, with conductor László Tamási), Cantemus blended choir (Nyíregyháza, with conductor Soma Szabó), and Cantemus girls choir (Nyíregyháza, with conductor Dénes Szabó). Furthermore, I additionally witnessed stay performances by the Aurin Girls Choir (with conductor Lászlo Durányik) whose members attend the Kodály music secondary faculty of Kecskemét.
With his 113 choral works, choral music is a vital thread all through Tóth’s compositional journey. As early as in 1984 – on the age of 19, earlier than getting into the Franz Liszt Academy – Tóth composed his Kis szvit (Little Suite for youngsters choir) which eight years later gained third prize at a prestigious composition competitors (1992). Over the next years/a long time Tóth was awarded with many necessary prizes.
The twelve Tóth choral compositions introduced at my Kecskemét outing confirmed a deep respect in direction of the Kodály custom by taking prime quality poetic texts or people texts as their foundation. Three had been composed to poems by Sándor Weöres: Kis híd, deszka híd, 1984; Holdének, 1993; Stabat mater, 1996. Kodály too used poems by Weöres: he commissioned Weöres to write down fifty brief poems for little folks and thus produced his charming fifty nursery songs. Two of the Tóth choruses introduced had been composed to texts by Jenő Dsida (Lángok, 2005) and Anna Mechler (Üres a ház, 2016) respectively. From what I may observe on one listening to, melody and rhythm are in good concord with the texts.
Tóth’s choral items on people textual content don’t turn out to be people music initiations; whereas respecting the texts, the musical realisations belong to prime quality and extremely pleasing artwork music: Magas hegyről foly’ le a víz, 2000; Átok dal, 2001. Since 2004 Tóth usually composes to Latin texts. Not realizing any Latin, I simply sat again and loved the wonder: Ave Maris stella, 2004; Ave Maria, 2011; Ubi caritas et amor, 2012; Et incarnatus est, 2019; Carpe diem, 2022.
All twelve Tóth choruses introduced in Kecskemét are richly polyphonic, principally in three components for youngsters/women/girls voices though Et incarnatus est is for an eight-part blended choir. Tóth makes use of quite a few technical gadgets, together with lengthy held notes that’s as if a pedal is pressed on some a part of the choir (Átok dal / Curse, 2001). Elsewhere vocal glissando may help to extend the required expression (Lángok / Flames, 2005 – initially for male choir however a number of variations exist). Depending on the refrain Tóth writes for, technical challenges could be included (such because the excessive B notice which is a 3rd above the conventional soprano vary) however, crucially, Tóth choral items are pleasing to carry out in addition to to take heed to.
The Aurin Girls Choir beneath their conductor László Durányik delivered spectacular stay performances of Ave Maria (2011), Ubi caritas et amor (2012) and Üres a ház (2016). They sang from reminiscence; they sang with musicality and their sang in tune. Singing in tune with none accompaniment, particularly in three-part compositions, shouldn’t be taken as a right. Here we had forty-five youngsters between ages 15 and 19, totally centered not solely on their very own performances but in addition on Péter Tóth’s discuss. Chorus membership is voluntary, however all the women are college students on the Kodály music secondary faculty in Kecskemét. This faculty is mixed with the Kodály music major faculty: music educating with Kodály’s philosophy compliments common faculty topics.
Mostly so-called Kodály courses have little or nothing to do with Kodály’s philosophy. Sadly, misconceptions are sometimes pushed ahead even by Hungarians (as, sadly, I preserve seeing it in London and elsewhere). However, judging by the behaviour/performances of the Aurin Girls Choir, Kodály is a lifestyle within the Kecskemét music major and music secondary faculty.
I’m sure that Zoltán Kodály would have been pleased with Péter Tóth’s discuss, his compositions and the performances. I’m glad I made the journey to Kecskemét.
Agnes Kory