Szőllősy András
Composer
Place of Birth
Szászváros [Orăştie, Románia]
Date of Birth
1921
27 February 1921, Szászváros [Orăştie, Romania] - 6 December 2007, Budapest.
He started to study music in the private music school of Ilona Csipkés, in Kolozsvár. Later on, he visited the local High School of the Reformed Church. In 1939 he moved to Budapest, where he matriculated to the composing department of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music and the French-Hungarian department of the Péter Pázmány University (predecessor of the Lóránt Eötvös University) and became a member of the Eötvös Workshop. In 1943 he received the Master of Arts degree and one year later the teacher qualification. At the Academy he studied composing from 1939 to 1946, first with Zoltán Kodály, then with Albert Siklós and later with János Viski. After graduation he won a scholarship to the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and studied there from 1947 to 1948 as pupil of Goffredo Petrassi.
After the war he began to write music reviews to the periodical „Magyarok” (Hungarians) in Debrecen. In 1950 he became teacher at the music history and music theory department of the Music Academy. With Bence Szabolcsi and Dénes Bartha he founded the Hungarian Department for Musicology. Kodály’s catalogue was released in 1953, Bartók’s bibliography in 1955, and one year later he published Bartók’s complete catalogue in chronological order. In 1960 he wrote a book about Arthur Honegger.
From the 60’s he has put more emphasis on his composing activity. In 1964 he wrote Tre pezzi per flauto e pianoforte, which was presented by Severino Gazzelloni in Darmstadt, Madrid and Venice. In 1969 he had international success with his Concerto No. 3., which was a request from Frigyes Sándor and the Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra and also won first prize 1970 in Paris at the international Tribune of radio stations. He composed Concerto No. 4. in 1970 to the request of János Sándor and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Győr.
In 1972 he composed two works for large orchestra: Trasfigurazioni for the 25th Anniversary of the Radio Orchestra and Musica per orchestra, which was a request of the capitol city for the 100th Anniversary of the reunion of Pest, Buda and Óbuda. In 1973 he composed Musica concertante for the Budapest Chamber Orchestra, conducted by András Mihály, while the Preludio, adagio e fuga for the Dresdener Staatskapelle. The Concerto No. 5. („Lehellet” - Breath) was a request from the Hungarian Radio for the 50th birth anniversary of György Lehel.
From 1982 he has written more vocal works, like the choral works In Pharisaeos and Planctus Mariae, and the Fabula Phaedri (comissioned by the King’s Singers), as well as Miserere. Canto d’autunno was a request of the Wales BBC in 1986, while he wrote Paesaggio con Morti (dedicated to Péter Frankl) for the St. Magnus Festival in Orkney Island, Scotland. His String quartet was comissioned by the Dutch Orlando String Quartet. The Elegy was composed 1993 on the occasion of the Biennial in Berlin.
Szőllőssy was an active composer regarding applied music, too. Between 1954 and 1977 he composed music to 31 movies, 17 stage plays and 18 radio plays.
For his outstanding performance as composer and music historian he won many prestigious awards: the Erkel Prize in 1971, the title „Merited Artist” in 1974, the title „Distinguished Artist” in 1982, the Kossuth Prize in 1985, the Bartók-Pásztory Prize in 1986 and 1998. He was also honored with the title Commandeur l'Ordre des l'Arts et des Lettres (1987), the Grand Prize of Cultural Heritage (2002), the Starred Middle Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Republic (2006) and the Széchenyi Prize (2007). In 1993 he became member of the Széchenyi Literature and Art Academy.
He started to study music in the private music school of Ilona Csipkés, in Kolozsvár. Later on, he visited the local High School of the Reformed Church. In 1939 he moved to Budapest, where he matriculated to the composing department of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music and the French-Hungarian department of the Péter Pázmány University (predecessor of the Lóránt Eötvös University) and became a member of the Eötvös Workshop. In 1943 he received the Master of Arts degree and one year later the teacher qualification. At the Academy he studied composing from 1939 to 1946, first with Zoltán Kodály, then with Albert Siklós and later with János Viski. After graduation he won a scholarship to the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and studied there from 1947 to 1948 as pupil of Goffredo Petrassi.
After the war he began to write music reviews to the periodical „Magyarok” (Hungarians) in Debrecen. In 1950 he became teacher at the music history and music theory department of the Music Academy. With Bence Szabolcsi and Dénes Bartha he founded the Hungarian Department for Musicology. Kodály’s catalogue was released in 1953, Bartók’s bibliography in 1955, and one year later he published Bartók’s complete catalogue in chronological order. In 1960 he wrote a book about Arthur Honegger.
From the 60’s he has put more emphasis on his composing activity. In 1964 he wrote Tre pezzi per flauto e pianoforte, which was presented by Severino Gazzelloni in Darmstadt, Madrid and Venice. In 1969 he had international success with his Concerto No. 3., which was a request from Frigyes Sándor and the Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra and also won first prize 1970 in Paris at the international Tribune of radio stations. He composed Concerto No. 4. in 1970 to the request of János Sándor and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Győr.
In 1972 he composed two works for large orchestra: Trasfigurazioni for the 25th Anniversary of the Radio Orchestra and Musica per orchestra, which was a request of the capitol city for the 100th Anniversary of the reunion of Pest, Buda and Óbuda. In 1973 he composed Musica concertante for the Budapest Chamber Orchestra, conducted by András Mihály, while the Preludio, adagio e fuga for the Dresdener Staatskapelle. The Concerto No. 5. („Lehellet” - Breath) was a request from the Hungarian Radio for the 50th birth anniversary of György Lehel.
From 1982 he has written more vocal works, like the choral works In Pharisaeos and Planctus Mariae, and the Fabula Phaedri (comissioned by the King’s Singers), as well as Miserere. Canto d’autunno was a request of the Wales BBC in 1986, while he wrote Paesaggio con Morti (dedicated to Péter Frankl) for the St. Magnus Festival in Orkney Island, Scotland. His String quartet was comissioned by the Dutch Orlando String Quartet. The Elegy was composed 1993 on the occasion of the Biennial in Berlin.
Szőllőssy was an active composer regarding applied music, too. Between 1954 and 1977 he composed music to 31 movies, 17 stage plays and 18 radio plays.
For his outstanding performance as composer and music historian he won many prestigious awards: the Erkel Prize in 1971, the title „Merited Artist” in 1974, the title „Distinguished Artist” in 1982, the Kossuth Prize in 1985, the Bartók-Pásztory Prize in 1986 and 1998. He was also honored with the title Commandeur l'Ordre des l'Arts et des Lettres (1987), the Grand Prize of Cultural Heritage (2002), the Starred Middle Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Republic (2006) and the Széchenyi Prize (2007). In 1993 he became member of the Széchenyi Literature and Art Academy.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 |
Les Mysteres de la Naissance (A születés titkai)
(Les Mysteres de la Naissance (The Mysteries of Birth)) |
Hungaroton | HCD 31766 | |
| 2000 | A Bárdos Lajos Leánykar jubileumi hangversenyének műsora | Magánkiadás | ZENCD-2000-02 | |
| 2002 | Kurtág, Szőllősy, Sáry, Serei, Sári, Gyöngyössy | BMC Records | BMC CD 074 | |
| 2002 | Szőllősy András: III. Concerto, Tristia (Maros-sirató), Fabula Phaedri, Miserere, Töredékek | Hungaroton | HCD 31727 |
Own |
| 2003 |
Szőllősy András: Zenekari és kamarazenekari művek
(Szőllősy, András: Works for orchestra and chamber orchestra) |
BMC Records | BMC CD 080 |
Own |
| 2004 | Music Colors - Hungarian Contemporary Music (1989-2004) | BMC HMIC | BMC PCD 015 | Not for sale - only for promotion |
| 2016 | Gábor Csalog plays Beethoven, Szőllősy and Csapó | BMC Records | BMC CD 224 | |
| 2019 | The Masters Collection: Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra | Hungaroton | HCD 32837-39 | 3 CDs |
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| THE BLACK CITY | Film music | 1971 |
| ACCROSS THE RIVER AND INTO THE TREES | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| THE HAMMER OF THE PLACE | Film music | 1965 |
| A Hundred Bars for Tom Everett | Chamber Music | 1980 |
| THE KING IS DYING | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER | Music for the theater | 1956 |
| MASZKA´S DANCE TWO IN ONE PERSON, AND BEAVER / THE WONDER DOCTOR | Music for the theater | 1958 |
| BEARSKIN | Music for radio drama | 1959 |
| THE DISCOVERED LAND | Music for radio drama | 1960 |
| Sons of Fire | Ballet / Choreographic work | 1977 |
| ALADDIN AND HIS MAGICAL LAMP | Music for the theater | 1960 |
| ALCESTIS | Music for radio drama | 1958 |
| AMPHITRYON | Music for the theater | 1962 |
| AN ANGEL DESCENDED IN BABYLON | Music for the theater | 1967 |
| ANTIGONE | Music for the theater | 1964 |
| THE ETERNAL FLAME | Music for radio drama | 1958 |
| Addio | Concerto | 2002 |
| CONCERTO I. PER OTTONI, PERCUSSIONE, PIANOFORTE ED ARCHI | Concerto | 1959 |
| CSELKAS | Film music | 1977 |
| INTO A QUIET SHEAF | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1947 |
| THE MIRACLE STAG | Music for radio drama | 1959 |
| CSONGOR AND TÜNDE | Music for the theater | 1970 |
| Canto d´autunno | Symphony orchestra | 1986 |
| Concerto IV. per orchestra | Concerto | 1970 |
| Concerto per clavicembalo e 16 archi | Concerto | 1978 |
| Potterie | Film music | 1980 |
| Diminuendo | Orchestral work | 1977 |
| ELEKTRA - film music | Film music | 1963 |
| ELEKTRA - music for the theatre | Music for the theater | 1958 |
| ACTION EPEIOS | Film music | 1963 |
| Simple Canon for Gyuri Kurtág at Seventy | Choir a cappella | 1995 |
| Elegia per dieci strumenti | Chamber orchestra | 1993 |
| WALL ON THE LEFT | Music for radio drama | 1962 |
| SON OF THE WHITE HORSE | Music for the theater | 1967 |
| UPTHROWN STONE | Film music | 1969 |
| Fabula Phaedri | Vocal ensemble | 1982 |
| GILGAMES | Music for radio drama | 1960 |
| INFANTILE DISORDERS | Film music | 1965 |
| FIRST LULLABY FOR GÁBOR | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1976 |
| DEAD REGION | Film music | 1972 |
| THE RETURN OF HYPPOLYT | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| III. Concerto | Concerto | 1968 |
| IN PHARISAEOS (Vulgata, Luke II, 43-52, 12. 2) | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1982 |
| IPHIGENEIA IN AULIS | Film music | 1968 |
| THE SCOURGE OF GOD | Music for radio drama | 1964 |
| JOHN, THE VALIANT | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| BAPTISM | Film music | 1967 |
| SHOPWINDOW | Film music | 1975 |
| 44 Little Piano Pieces by Nine Composers | Instrumental solo | 0 |
| Night in Kolozsvár | Solo voice(s) with chamber orchestra | 1955 |
| LEGATO | Film music | 1977 |
| Lehellet (Concerto V.) per Orchestra | Concerto | 1975 |
| SUPERIOR SCHOOL | Film music | 1970 |
| MANDRAKE | Music for the theater | 1957 |
| SAY YOUR NAME | Film music | 1968 |
| How Long Does One Live? | Film music | 1967 |
| Miserere | Vocal ensemble | 1984 |
| Musica concertante | Chamber orchestra | 1973 |
| Musica per orchestra | Symphony orchestra | 1972 |
| Musiche per ottoni | Ensemble | 1975 |
| EIGHTY HUSSARS | Film music | 1977 |
| Restless Autumn | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1955 |
| Four Tiny pieces for Fanny and Flóra | Chamber Music | 1988 |
| WOMAN IN THE BARRACKS | Film music | 1961 |
| OTHELLO | Music for the theater | 1963 |
| Improvisations on Fear | Ballet / Choreographic work | 1963 |
| PEST ROOFTOPS | Film music | 1961 |
| BUTTERFLY | Music for the theater | 1958 |
| PLANCTUS MARIAE for female chorus, to sections of Stabat Mater by Jacopone da Todi and an 18th century Hungarian folk passion | Female choir | 1982 |
| PROMETHEUS | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| Paesaggio con morti / Landscape with Corpses | Instrumental solo | 1987 |
| Pantomime | Ballet / Choreographic work | 1965 |
| Passacaglia Achatio Máthé, in memoriam | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| Preludio, Adagio e Fuga | Symphony orchestra | 1973 |
| Pro Patria | Film music | 1970 |
| Pro sommo Igoris Stravinszky quieto | Chamber orchestra | 1978 |
| QUARTETTO DI TROMBONI | Chamber Music | 1986 |
| QUARTETTO PER ARCHI | Chamber Music | 1988 |
| Old Hungarian Dances | Chamber Music | 1956 |
| IN THE CURRENT | Film music | 1963 |
| SAINT SYLVESTER´S EVE | Music for radio drama | 1960 |
| THE HANDSOME LADY´S BIRD | Music for the theater | 1954 |
| Seventy-five Major Thirds for György Ligeti | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| Sonoritá | Symphony orchestra | 1974 |
| Suoni di tromba | Chamber Music | 1983 |
| Sonata for Solo Violin | Instrumental solo | 1947 |
| THESEUS AND ARIADNE | Music for radio drama | 1963 |
| TISZA AUTUMN FRAMES | Film music | 1962 |
| Appointment | Film music | 1963 |
| Transfigurazioni per orchestra | Symphony orchestra | 1972 |
| Tre Pezzi | Chamber Music | 1964 |
| Tristia (Maros-Lament) | String orchestra | 1983 |
| TEN THOUSAND DAYS | Film music | 1967 |
| FAIRY LALA | Music for the theater | 1968 |
| Fragments | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1985 |
| Fragments - 1956 | Film music | 2006 |
| IN OUR BOREDOM | Film music | 1977 |
| VALIANTS AND HEROES | Film music | 1959 |
| CHARGE AND MAGIC | Music for the theater | 1963 |
| Twefth Day | Film music | 1967 |
| SUSANNAH AND THE ELDERS | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| GREEN FLOOD | Film music | 1965 |
| ÁLMOS | Music for radio drama | 1959 |
| FIVE LITTLE PIANO PIECES | Instrumental solo | 1958 |
| Suicide | Film music | 1967 |
| CELEBRATION DAYS | Film music | 1967 |
| MESSAGE | Film music | 1967 |