Karai József
Composer
Place of Birth
Budapest
Date of Birth
1927
8 November 1927 Budapest - 7 September 2013
József Karai was born in Budapest on 8 November 1927. He finished his studies in Budapest and Pécs between 1935 and 1946. He began his musical studies relatively late, at the age of 12. At the end of World War II he was enlisted. After the war he worked as an unskilled worker at the Electricity Works of Budapest. Between 1947 and 1954 he studied composition with János Viski and Ferenc Farkas and conducting with János Ferencsik, András Kórodi and László Somogyi at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music.
He married Katalin Kertész in 1951. Between 1948 and 1969 he taught and conducted several choruses in Budapest. This occupation strongly influenced his activities: he composed many works for choruses. Since 1969 he has been active as a free-lance composer, he composed numerous instrumental works, songs, cantatas, etc.
Around 90 of his pieces have been published in Hungary, and 40 of them abroad (Darmstadt, Pohlheim, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Moscow, Boston, Helsinki). His works have more than 100 recordings. These works are performed all over the world.
His career can be divided into four periods: following the masters, looking for a unique voice, a special avant-garde style, and a new method based on simplicity.
He was interested in history, history of religion, philosophy, art and technology.
József Karai was born in Budapest on 8 November 1927. He finished his studies in Budapest and Pécs between 1935 and 1946. He began his musical studies relatively late, at the age of 12. At the end of World War II he was enlisted. After the war he worked as an unskilled worker at the Electricity Works of Budapest. Between 1947 and 1954 he studied composition with János Viski and Ferenc Farkas and conducting with János Ferencsik, András Kórodi and László Somogyi at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music.
He married Katalin Kertész in 1951. Between 1948 and 1969 he taught and conducted several choruses in Budapest. This occupation strongly influenced his activities: he composed many works for choruses. Since 1969 he has been active as a free-lance composer, he composed numerous instrumental works, songs, cantatas, etc.
Around 90 of his pieces have been published in Hungary, and 40 of them abroad (Darmstadt, Pohlheim, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Moscow, Boston, Helsinki). His works have more than 100 recordings. These works are performed all over the world.
His career can be divided into four periods: following the masters, looking for a unique voice, a special avant-garde style, and a new method based on simplicity.
He was interested in history, history of religion, philosophy, art and technology.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 |
Estéli nótázás
(Hungarian Folk-Songs for Chorus) |
Hungaroton | SLPX 12570 | LP |
| 1988 |
Éneklő Ifjúság 10
(Singing Youth) |
Hungaroton | SLPX 31102 | LP |
| 1991 | Children's Choruses for You | Magánkiadás | BLKA CD 001 | |
| 1999 |
Musica Nostra - Kórusművek
(Choral Works) |
Hungaroton | HCD 31840 | |
| 2005 |
Ó, gyönyörű szép, titokzatos éj - Karácsonyi dalok
(O Splendid Mysterious Night - Christmas Songs) |
Hungaroton | HDVD 32404 | DVD |
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Pieces for Flute and Piano | Chamber Music | 0 |
| The clown and the Lady - for wind symphony orchestra | Wind orchestra | 1995 |
| The clown and the Lady - for brass quintet | Chamber Music | 1990 |
| The clown and the Lady - for percussion instruments | Ensemble | 1990 |
| Dance in the Spinnery | Mixed choir | 0 |
| The Song of Goodness | Mixed choir | 1983 |
| The Little Brother | Children's choir | 0 |
| The games of winter | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| Adeste Fideles | Mixed choir | 1996 |
| Alleluja | Mixed choir | 1981 |
| English Folk Song | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| Ave Maria I. | Female choir | 1985 |
| Ave Maria II. | Female choir | 1990 |
| Ave Maris Stella | Female choir | 1987 |
| Ramblers - A Day in a Child´s Life | Children's choir | 1963 |
| Burlesque - for trombone and piano | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| Burlesque - for clarinet and piano | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| Bye and Bye | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1969 |
| Congedo / Ero | Mixed choir | 1987 |
| Consolation | Mixed choir | 1987 |
| Astonishment | Mixed choir | 1974 |
| Song Without Text | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| The Spring Wind´s Salutation | Female choir | 1964 |
| De Profundis (Psalm 130) | Mixed choir | 1980 |
| Der Gondelfahrer | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1996 |
| The Shortest Tales of the World | Mixed choir | 1994 |
| Divertimento on English folk songs - for youth string orchesta | String orchestra | 1999 |
| Divertimento on English folk songs - for brass quintet | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| An Exhibition of Children´s Drawings | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| To a Blossoming Cherry Tree | Female choir | 0 |
| A Spring Evening | Mixed choir | 1985 |
| The Birds´ Songs - for solo voices, children´s choir and organ | Solo voice(s), choir & solo instrument(s) | 1999 |
| The Birds´ Songs - for tenor solo and mixed choir | Mixed choir | 1995 |
| Evening | Chamber Music | 1972 |
| Evening Prayer | Female choir | 1996 |
| Singing in the Evening - for mixed choir and piano | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1956 |
| Evening Singing | Choir with accompaniment | 1956 |
| Evening Waterfall | Female choir | 1987 |
| Ev´ry Time I Feel the Spirit | Mixed choir | 1969 |
| Good Night | Male choir | 1998 |
| Dance Grotesque | Chamber Music | 1967 |
| Dance Grotesque - for clarinet and piano | Chamber Music | 1967 |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est | Male choir | 1998 |
| Hodie Christus Natus Est | Female choir | 1989 |
| Hymn on the Universe | Solo voice(s), choir & orchestra | 1992 |
| Three Blues | Female choir | 1978 |
| The Distance Calls | Children's choir | 0 |
| I Want to Go to Heaven | Mixed choir | 1976 |
| I Will Give My Love an Apple - for female choir and piano | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1985 |
| I Will Give My Love an Apple - for mixed choir | Mixed choir | 1970 |
| In Dulci Jubilo | Female choir | 1996 |
| In Dulci Jubilo - for mixed choir | Mixed choir | 1997 |
| Caution to the Guards | Female choir | 1977 |
| Recruiting Song from Kecskemét | Choir with accompaniment | 0 |
| Little Folksong Suite | Children's choir | 1958 |
| Kodály´s Words (Forword from the Bicinia Hungarica) | Children's choir | 0 |
| Two Children´s Choruses | Children's choir | 1957 |
| Two Humorous Sketches | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| Choir In Memoriam Kodály | Choir a cappella | 0 |
| Laudate Dominum (Psalm 150) | Mixed choir | 1993 |
| Little David | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1976 |
| Love | Mixed choir | 1985 |
| Hungarian Christmas Carols | Female choir | 1994 |
| Seashore | Male choir | 1986 |
| Missa Brevis | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1999 |
| My Lord, What a Morning | Mixed choir | 1969 |
| March | Female choir | 1987 |
| Sometimes I Feel | Mixed choir | 0 |
| Oh! I Know I Have Another Buildin´ | Mixed choir | 1969 |
| October Song | Male choir | 1989 |
| Old Ark´s a-Movering | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1976 |
| Good Night Pal | Choir with accompaniment | 0 |
| Pater Noster | Mixed choir | 1988 |
| Personent Hodie | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1996 |
| Psalmus 23 | Female choir | 2001 |
| Minstrel Song | Female choir | 1981 |
| Resonemus Laudibus | Mixed choir | 1996 |
| Rhytmus e Mariali | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1998 |
| Rise Up, Shepherd | Mixed choir | 1969 |
| Clot to Clot | Male choir | 0 |
| Sinner, You Know | Mixed choir | 1976 |
| Sometimes I Feel | Mixed choir | 1969 |
| Stabat Mater | Mixed choir | 1983 |
| Surrexit Christus Hodie | Mixed choir | 1987 |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1976 |
| Freedom, Come to Us! | Choir a cappella | 0 |
| Sleigh Bells | Children's choir | 1956 |
| Spring Song | Choir a cappella | 0 |
| Spring Rejocing | Choir with accompaniment | 1982 |
| The Blackbird | Mixed choir | 1974 |
| The Carter´s Health | Mixed choir | 1970 |
| The Old Fox | Mixed choir | 1970 |
| The Truth from Above | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1996 |
| The Truth from Above - for solo voices and mixed choir | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1996 |
| Three English Folk Songs | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1993 |
| Twelve Spirituals | Mixed choir | 0 |
| Winter Landscape | Choir a cappella | 0 |
| If I Were a Fairy... | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1974 |
| Tündérsíp | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1976 |
| Jumping Dance | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1977 |
| Wild Rose | Children's choir | 1956 |
| Magic Chant | Female choir | 1978 |
| Cheerful Song | Mixed choir | 0 |
| Lamentation for Flowers | Female choir | 0 |
| Wade in the Water | Choir with solo voice(s) | 1976 |
| How the Rain Falls | Female choir | 1987 |
| Musical Wakening | Children's choir | 0 |
| I Bless You with Dolor and Gaiety | Female choir | 0 |
| Celestial Railway | Choir with accompaniment | 0 |
| Night | Female choir | 1976 |
| New Minstrel Song | Female choir | 0 |
| Autumnal Wind | Chamber Music | 1997 |