Decsényi János
Composer
Place of Birth
Budapest
Date of Birth
1927
24 March 1927 Budapest
He started his music studies in the Municipal Upper School as pupil of Rezső Sugár. In 1952 he was accepted to the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, where he graduated in the class of Endre Szervánszky in 1956.
He joined the staff of the classical music department of the Hungarian Radio, first he worked there as editor, later as manager. For twenty years he managed the electro acoustic music studio of the radio as well, and until 2007 he was script editor of Rádió Bartók. In 1956 he won the composing contest of Vercelli, Italy. As composer he is familiar with a wide range of music genres: he has composed symphonic and chamber music, oratorios, electroacoustic music and incidental music for movies, theatres, the radio and the television.
His major works are: Epitaph from Aquincum (1979), The 12th symphony of Sándor Weöres (1980); Book of Memorial - audiovisual oratorio (1998), Farewell to a century gone - oratorio (2001), Do I Still Come to Your Mind? - two monologues of women (2002), Symphony No. 3. - "The 23rd Letter" (2006), Book of poems - electroacoustic cycle (1994-2000).
Prizes:
1975 Erkel Prize
1981 Award of the Critics
1986 Merited Artist
1991 Award of the Critics
1999 Bartók-Pásztory Award
2009 Excellent Artist
2012 Artisjus Prize
He started his music studies in the Municipal Upper School as pupil of Rezső Sugár. In 1952 he was accepted to the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, where he graduated in the class of Endre Szervánszky in 1956.
He joined the staff of the classical music department of the Hungarian Radio, first he worked there as editor, later as manager. For twenty years he managed the electro acoustic music studio of the radio as well, and until 2007 he was script editor of Rádió Bartók. In 1956 he won the composing contest of Vercelli, Italy. As composer he is familiar with a wide range of music genres: he has composed symphonic and chamber music, oratorios, electroacoustic music and incidental music for movies, theatres, the radio and the television.
His major works are: Epitaph from Aquincum (1979), The 12th symphony of Sándor Weöres (1980); Book of Memorial - audiovisual oratorio (1998), Farewell to a century gone - oratorio (2001), Do I Still Come to Your Mind? - two monologues of women (2002), Symphony No. 3. - "The 23rd Letter" (2006), Book of poems - electroacoustic cycle (1994-2000).
Prizes:
1975 Erkel Prize
1981 Award of the Critics
1986 Merited Artist
1991 Award of the Critics
1999 Bartók-Pásztory Award
2009 Excellent Artist
2012 Artisjus Prize
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "Neither Memory nor Magic" - Solo Cantata on Miklós Radnóti´s Verses | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 2014 |
| Station 79 | Music for radio drama | 1959 |
| Fuite des Centaures - From the Cycle: Book of Poems, No. 4 | Live and tape music | 1999 |
| The Mug | Music for radio drama | 1969 |
| The Third One | Chamber orchestra | 1985 |
| Miles Gloriosus / The Swaggering Soldier | Music for radio drama | 1966 |
| Die japanischen Fischer / The Japanese fishermen | Music for radio drama | 1964 |
| Birds of the Cathedral - Soundscapes No. 3 | Tape music | 1991 |
| The Suitors | Music for radio drama | 1970 |
| The Poet´s Epitaph | Mixed choir | 2011 |
| The True Musician | Music for radio drama | 1959 |
| Under Milk Wood | Music for radio drama | 1975 |
| The Feast of Women | Music for radio drama | 1968 |
| The Robber | Music for the theater | 1963 |
| The Donkey´s Shadow | Music for radio drama | 0 |
| The Tiger, The Donkey and the Lemmings | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1998 |
| Do You Still Remember the Speech of Crickets? | Live and tape music | 1993 |
| Who Understands the Speech of Crickets? | Live and tape music | 1983 |
| The Tempest | Music for the theater | 1988 |
| The Creation of the World | Stage work | 1969 |
| Angyalföld | Female choir | 1973 |
| Antigone | Incidental music | 1965 |
| Ars poetica on Sándor Weöres´s Poem "Dark Words" | Solo voice(s) with ensemble | 0 |
| Frauengesänge / Women´s Songs - for mezzosopran and piano | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1998 |
| Fraugasänge - for mezzosopran solo, piano, string orchestra and percussions | Solo voice(s) with orchestra | 2008 |
| August Inaugural | Choir and chamber orchestra | 1959 |
| The Acharnians | Music for radio drama | 1964 |
| The Enchanted Brothers | Music for radio drama | 1980 |
| The Tragedy of Man | Music for radio drama | 1972 |
| The Nose | Music for the theater | 1979 |
| The Last Car | Music for radio drama | 1960 |
| The First Day of the Year | Music for radio drama | 1963 |
| Samblant de joie - Commentaries on Machaut, for chamber ensemble and baritone | Solo voice(s) with ensemble | 2009 |
| Balaton Song | Choir and orchestra | 1975 |
| Ballad of Endre Ságvári | Choir with accompaniment | 1976 |
| Barbaric Songs | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1958 |
| Byzantine Empire | Music for radio drama | 1986 |
| Song of Peace | Choir and orchestra | 1963 |
| Congedo / Farewell | Mixed choir | 1997 |
| Farewell to a century Gone - oratorio on lines by 20th century Hungarian poets | Solo voice(s), choir & orchestra | 2001 |
| Concertino | String orchestra | 1957 |
| Concertino | Concerto | 1976 |
| Concerto boémo / Bohemian Concerto | Symphony orchestra | 1976 |
| Concerto grosso | Chamber orchestra | 1978 |
| Go Ahead | Solo voice(s) with orchestra | 1965 |
| Cheater on the glass mountain | Music for radio drama | 1967 |
| Preceding Silence | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1999 |
| Chatting - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2010 |
| Puss in boots | Music for the theater | 1975 |
| Mockery - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2010 |
| Cyrano de Bergerac | Music for radio drama | 1976 |
| Song – From the Cycle: Book of Poems, No. 2 | Live and tape music | 1994 |
| Heroic Times | Film music | 1985 |
| Under the Pretxet of Dante (Sotto pretesto di Dante)- Lines from the Comedy | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 2011 |
| Rainer Maria Rilke´s Encounter With Death | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 2001 |
| Divertimento | Concerto | 1958 |
| Double | Chamber orchestra | 1974 |
| The Moon Was Stolen | Music for the theater | 1964 |
| Book of Memorial | Solo voice(s), choir & orchestra | 1998 |
| Do i Still Come to Your Mind? - Two Women´s Monologues | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 2002 |
| French Nostalgies | Live and tape music | 2002 |
| Earth Rocket | Music for radio drama | 1960 |
| Wind Quintet - With Marquetry | Chamber Music | 2014 |
| Giochi del pensiero / Play of Thought | Solo voice(s) with chamber orchestra | 1973 |
| Dumplings | Music for radio drama | 1963 |
| Thoughts - by day, by night | Symphony orchestra | 1971 |
| Cello Concerto | Concerto | 1984 |
| Children´s Cemetery | Male choir | 1985 |
| Grief | Male choir | 1985 |
| Halmazállpotámia | Music for radio drama | 1969 |
| The Seducer´s Diary | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| Homewards | Ballet / Choreographic work | 1962 |
| Käthchen of Heilbronn | Music for radio drama | 1979 |
| Hellas | Music for radio drama | 1967 |
| Hercules and the Augean Stables | Music for radio drama | 1962 |
| Hotel Universum | Music for radio drama | 1963 |
| Hyperions Schicksalslied / Hyperion´s Song of Fate | Live and prerecorded music | 0 |
| Three Elegies on Poems of Salvatore Quasimodo | Mixed choir | 1962 |
| Three Short Choruses | Children's choir | 1971 |
| Three Madrigals | Mixed choir | 1956 |
| Three Spring Songs | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1961 |
| Symphony, No. 1 | Symphony orchestra | 1986 |
| Symphony No. 2 "Vocis imago" | Symphony orchestra | 1993 |
| Symphony No. 3 - "The 23rd Letter" - for bariton solo, mixed choir and symphony orchestra | Solo voice(s), choir & orchestra | 2006 |
| Symphony No. 4 (After Shakespeare) | Solo voice(s) with solo instr. and orch. | 2014 |
| Frightener | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1978 |
| Iphigenia among the Taurians | Music for the theater | 1964 |
| Ismeretlen föld | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 2008 |
| Scenes from the Hungarian Age Of Cavalry | Wind orchestra | 1987 |
| Presence - From the cycle: Book of Poems, No. 1 | Live and tape music | 1994 |
| Will it be Better With the Cranes...? - Symphony of the Hortobágy | Electroacoustic music | 1996 |
| Kalevala | Music for the theater | 1984 |
| Kati´s Songs | Choir and orchestra | 1968 |
| Goat Madrigal - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2010 |
| Small Picture Book of Animals | Choir and chamber orchestra | 1978 |
| Clopas | Music for radio drama | 1974 |
| Comments on Marc Aurel | String orchestra | 1973 |
| Concert - from the cycle "Narratives" | Electroacoustic music | 2006 |
| Concert Sonata for Violoncello and Piano | Chamber Music | 1991 |
| Korf´s Pocket Watch - From the Cycle: Book of Poems, No. 3 | Tape music | 1998 |
| Dog Soccer - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2010 |
| An Absurd Story | Ballet / Choreographic work | 1962 |
| Készülődés - Fragments from Poems of Hungarian Poets | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 2012 |
| Two Short Choruses | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 1976 |
| Two Spring Songs | Choir and orchestra | 1962 |
| Circle | Instrumental solo | 2009 |
| Stones - Soundscapes, No. 1 | Tape music | 1987 |
| La Fontana Malata (The Sick Fountain) - From the Cycle Book of Poems, No. 5 | Electroacoustic music | 2000 |
| The Trial of Lucullus | Music for radio drama | 1961 |
| Hungarian Electra | Incidental music | 1974 |
| Hungarian Electra | Music for the theater | 1966 |
| Melodiae hominis | Ensemble | 1969 |
| Metamorfosi / Metamorphoses | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1964 |
| Folksong | String orchestra | 1980 |
| Odysseus | Music for the theater | 1982 |
| The Andersonville Trial | Music for the theater | 1964 |
| Peer Gynt | Music for radio drama | 1971 |
| Prospero´s Island - Soundscapes No. 2 | Tape music | 1989 |
| Mr. Puntila and his Man Matti | Music for radio drama | 1965 |
| We´re Rapping - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2011 |
| Ramayana | Music for the theater | 1989 |
| Old Hungarian Texts | Solo voice(s) with ensemble | 1991 |
| Samblant de joie / The semblance of joy | Solo voice(s) with ensemble | 2009 |
| Shakespeare Monologues | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1968 |
| Sinfonietta per archi | String orchestra | 1962 |
| Sonatina pastorale | Chamber Music | 1956 |
| Love | Solo voice(s) with orchestra | 1957 |
| Sonatina | Instrumental solo | 1958 |
| Suite - for youth string orchestra | Chamber orchestra | 1960 |
| Epitaph from Aquincum | Solo voice(s) with chamber orchestra | 1979 |
| Spring Chanson | Mixed choir | 1968 |
| Spring Wind - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2010 |
| Trio divertimento - "The Three Kings" | Chamber Music | 2007 |
| Tryptich | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1997 |
| Humorous Song | Choir and chamber orchestra | 1969 |
| The Women of Troy | Music for the theater | 1965 |
| From Far Away to Now - lines from an Ady book of poems | Solo voice(s) with ensemble | 2002 |
| Comedy of Errors | Music for the theater | 1968 |
| Ten Etudes | String orchestra | 1964 |
| Fire | Solo voice(s), choir & orchestra | 1972 |
| Roads | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1979 |
| Blind Words | Chamber Music | 2004 |
| After Storm | Choir with accompaniment | 1973 |
| String Quartet | Chamber Music | 1978 |
| String Quartet No. 2 | Chamber Music | 2003 |
| String Trio | Chamber Music | 1955 |
| Variations | Concerto | 1976 |
| Struggling | Music for radio drama | 1962 |
| Sándor Weöres´ Twelfth Symphony | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1980 |
| When You Are Old... | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1988 |
| Zalán´s Run | Music for radio drama | 1977 |
| Music for a Shakespearian Comedy | Chamber orchestra | 1970 |
| Lullaby | Choir with accompaniment | 1966 |
| Shadows and Flames | Solo voice(s) with solo instrument(s) | 1998 |
| Transcription - Six Pieces from Tchaikovsky´s "Children´s Album" | Chamber orchestra | 1965 |
| Transcription - Five Easy Pieces from the "Children´s Album" by Schumann | Chamber orchestra | 1965 |
| Electra | Music for radio drama | 1970 |
| Song About the Red Headstones | Choir with accompaniment | 1975 |
| Words to Sing - from the Children-Choir Cycle "Carmina puerorum" | Choir and solo instrument(s) | 2010 |
| That´s how it should have been | Solo voice(s) with ensemble | 1964 |
| Five Csontváry Paintings | Symphony orchestra | 1967 |
| Five Short Choruses | Children's choir | 1958 |
| New Testament | Music for radio drama | 1987 |
| New Year´s Window | Mixed choir | 1970 |
| Festive Overture | Symphony orchestra | 1961 |