Szervánszky Endre
Composer
Place of Birth
Kistétény
Date of Birth
1911
27 December 1911 Kistétény – 25 June 1977 Budapest
From 1922 to 1927 he studied clarinet at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest. Between 1928 and 1930 he was on study-tour in Italy and Turkey. In 1931 he returned to the Music Academy. He studied composing from Albert Siklós and received a certificate in 1936.
From the mid-’30s he took part in the illegal communist movement with Sándor Kuti. Until 1941 he taught music theory in various music schools.
At that time he composed his first two significant works: String Quartet No. 1. (1938, premiered in 1942) and Divertimento for String Orchestra (1939, premiered in 1940). Between 1941 and 1948 he taught composing and music theoretical subjects, and from 1949 until his death he was composing teacher of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music. From 1945 to 1949 he was music critic of the journal „Szabad Nép”. He was not only member, but from 1949 to 1956 also board member of the Association of Hungarian Musicians.
His first creative period can be characterized by clear diatonic construction similar to folk music. Two outstanding compositions of this period – Home Guard Cantata (1949) and Orchestral Rhapsody (1951) – were awarded with the Kossuth Prize.
His second creative period was dominated by the influence of Bartók’s style, and also dodecaphonic composition appeared in his harmony world. At that time he created three grand Petőfi Choral Works and in 1950 he composed the Clarinet Serenade, which he received Kossuth Prize for the second time for.
His third creative period can be best described by the dodecaphonic composition technique. With the Attila József Concerto (1954) and the Sting Quartet No. 2. (1957), but mainly with Six Orchestral Pieces (1959, premiered in 1961) he started a series of works of new style. The most significant of these compositions are Variations for Orchestra (1965), Clarinet concerto and Seven Flute Etudes, as well as his oratorio titled "Dark Heaven" based on text by János Pilinszky.
In 1963 he was awarded with the title Merited Artist, and in 1977 with the title Excellent Artist.
From 1922 to 1927 he studied clarinet at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest. Between 1928 and 1930 he was on study-tour in Italy and Turkey. In 1931 he returned to the Music Academy. He studied composing from Albert Siklós and received a certificate in 1936.
From the mid-’30s he took part in the illegal communist movement with Sándor Kuti. Until 1941 he taught music theory in various music schools.
At that time he composed his first two significant works: String Quartet No. 1. (1938, premiered in 1942) and Divertimento for String Orchestra (1939, premiered in 1940). Between 1941 and 1948 he taught composing and music theoretical subjects, and from 1949 until his death he was composing teacher of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music. From 1945 to 1949 he was music critic of the journal „Szabad Nép”. He was not only member, but from 1949 to 1956 also board member of the Association of Hungarian Musicians.
His first creative period can be characterized by clear diatonic construction similar to folk music. Two outstanding compositions of this period – Home Guard Cantata (1949) and Orchestral Rhapsody (1951) – were awarded with the Kossuth Prize.
His second creative period was dominated by the influence of Bartók’s style, and also dodecaphonic composition appeared in his harmony world. At that time he created three grand Petőfi Choral Works and in 1950 he composed the Clarinet Serenade, which he received Kossuth Prize for the second time for.
His third creative period can be best described by the dodecaphonic composition technique. With the Attila József Concerto (1954) and the Sting Quartet No. 2. (1957), but mainly with Six Orchestral Pieces (1959, premiered in 1961) he started a series of works of new style. The most significant of these compositions are Variations for Orchestra (1965), Clarinet concerto and Seven Flute Etudes, as well as his oratorio titled "Dark Heaven" based on text by János Pilinszky.
In 1963 he was awarded with the title Merited Artist, and in 1977 with the title Excellent Artist.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Ligeti / Kurtág / Orbán / Szerványszky | BIS Records | BIS-CD-662 | |
| 1999 |
Solos - XX. századi magyar kompozíciók szóló fuvolára
(20th C. Hungarian Works for Flute) |
Hungaroton | HCD 31785 | |
| 2008 |
A közelmúlt magyar fuvolája
(The Near Past of the Hungarian Flute) |
Hungaroton | HCD 32578 |