Kurtág György jr.
Composer
"As a researcher I am interested in the creation of intelligent instruments, and the creation of structures that integrate collective instruments and the pedagogy of interaction (man–machine communication).
As a composer I am interested in joint work with other composers, and the developing projects created with performers.
As an educationalist I have created a method that develops the basic competencies indispensable for the continuity of 3-D communication:
- intelligence of feeling (the mobility of listening, sensing by touch etc.)
- divided intelligence (man–machine communication)
- collective intelligence (free improvisation: the legibility of intentions, anticipation, positioning in time and space, understanding and treatment of the context)"
After studying composition in Hungary, where he was born, between 1980 and 1982 he joined the team of the Centre Européen de Recherche Musical in Metz. Between 1980 and 1985 he was a composer-researcher and musical assistant at IRCAM (Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique/Musique ). He worked with Maurizio Kagel, Péter Eötvös and Sylvano Bussotti. He took part in the American tour of Pierre Boulez’s Repons.
Since 1983 he has worked with Ferenc Grünwalsky. He has composed several film soundtracks, of which the "Variations Goldberg" was awarded the Prix des Critiques de Cinema, the prize for the best film soundtrack, in 1993. In 1996, with the Lugosi Quartet he recomposed the music for Ed Wood's film Plan 9 from Outer Space, which was presented in Paris as a movie event. Later he became a member of the scientific council of the creative and music technology research centre of SCRIME (Studio de Création et de Recherche en Informatique et Musique Électroacoustique). His research touches on the analysis of the movements of the musician, and the creation of new instruments. He worked with the German company Shadow on the creation of a prototype synthesis module to be used with a guitar-MIDI interface.
With Daniel Kientzy (saxophone) and Frank Royan Le Mee (vocalist) he founded the ensemble Comité des Fêtes, which underwent a musical renewal at the end of the 80s, drawing on eclectic contemporary and early music, the world of the theatre and improvisation.
Since 1999 he has taken part in collaborative composition and developing projects. With György Kurtág senior he has written Zwiegespräch for "electronic hybrid" string quartet and synthesiser. The work was written to a commission from the Paul Sacher Foundation and featured at the Lucerne Festival in 2000, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in 2001 (with the Arditti Quartet), and the Vienna Festwochen in 2002 (with the Keller Quartet). As an independent artist his work The Continuator Project featured at the 24th Hestejada de Las Arts d’Uzeste Musical (2001), at the "Sons d’Hiver” Paris festival and at Vienna and Budapest festivals in 2002.
Discography:
Comité des Fêtes (with Daniel Kientzy – saxophone – and Frank Royan Le Mee – vocals and keyboards)
1er Pas (with Pascal Lefeuvre – hurdy-gurdy, Ed. Alba Musica)
Lux Nox : SMS (Ed. BMC Records Budapest)
see also: Kurtág, György Jr. - keyboards
As a composer I am interested in joint work with other composers, and the developing projects created with performers.
As an educationalist I have created a method that develops the basic competencies indispensable for the continuity of 3-D communication:
- intelligence of feeling (the mobility of listening, sensing by touch etc.)
- divided intelligence (man–machine communication)
- collective intelligence (free improvisation: the legibility of intentions, anticipation, positioning in time and space, understanding and treatment of the context)"
After studying composition in Hungary, where he was born, between 1980 and 1982 he joined the team of the Centre Européen de Recherche Musical in Metz. Between 1980 and 1985 he was a composer-researcher and musical assistant at IRCAM (Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique/Musique ). He worked with Maurizio Kagel, Péter Eötvös and Sylvano Bussotti. He took part in the American tour of Pierre Boulez’s Repons.
Since 1983 he has worked with Ferenc Grünwalsky. He has composed several film soundtracks, of which the "Variations Goldberg" was awarded the Prix des Critiques de Cinema, the prize for the best film soundtrack, in 1993. In 1996, with the Lugosi Quartet he recomposed the music for Ed Wood's film Plan 9 from Outer Space, which was presented in Paris as a movie event. Later he became a member of the scientific council of the creative and music technology research centre of SCRIME (Studio de Création et de Recherche en Informatique et Musique Électroacoustique). His research touches on the analysis of the movements of the musician, and the creation of new instruments. He worked with the German company Shadow on the creation of a prototype synthesis module to be used with a guitar-MIDI interface.
With Daniel Kientzy (saxophone) and Frank Royan Le Mee (vocalist) he founded the ensemble Comité des Fêtes, which underwent a musical renewal at the end of the 80s, drawing on eclectic contemporary and early music, the world of the theatre and improvisation.
Since 1999 he has taken part in collaborative composition and developing projects. With György Kurtág senior he has written Zwiegespräch for "electronic hybrid" string quartet and synthesiser. The work was written to a commission from the Paul Sacher Foundation and featured at the Lucerne Festival in 2000, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in 2001 (with the Arditti Quartet), and the Vienna Festwochen in 2002 (with the Keller Quartet). As an independent artist his work The Continuator Project featured at the 24th Hestejada de Las Arts d’Uzeste Musical (2001), at the "Sons d’Hiver” Paris festival and at Vienna and Budapest festivals in 2002.
Discography:
Comité des Fêtes (with Daniel Kientzy – saxophone – and Frank Royan Le Mee – vocals and keyboards)
1er Pas (with Pascal Lefeuvre – hurdy-gurdy, Ed. Alba Musica)
Lux Nox : SMS (Ed. BMC Records Budapest)
see also: Kurtág, György Jr. - keyboards
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Lux Nox: S(M)S | BMC Records | BMC CD 081 |
Own |
| 2007 | Kurtág 80 | BMC Records | BMC CD 129 |
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| From Pure Sound Sources Only | Chamber Music | 0 |
| Mémoire de Laïka | Tape music | 1990 |
| Rottenbiller Street 16-22 | Live electronic music | 1990 |
| Zwiegespräch | Live electronic music | 1999 |