Márta István
Composer
Place of Birth
Budapest
Date of Birth
1952
14 June 1952, Budapest
Studied at the Zsuzsanna Lórántffy Music School between 1958 and 1966, later at the Béla Bartók Secondary School between 1966 and 1970. He entered the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest in 1970 and graduated in 1975 in the artistic-teacher department as a student of Rezső Sugár. In 1976 he attended a course on composition conducted by Witold Loutosławski.
In 1973 he started to collect folk music in Moldova (Romania) among the Hungarian Csangó people. Between 1972 and 1984, as a leader of a youth establishment, he organised concerts and performances (Club of Young Artists Music Section, Group of Young Musicians). From 1980 he appeared in independent music-making events (Music of our Age, MTV Entertaiment Evening, Warsaw Autumn).
He was also a member of Group 180 as an instrumentalist and composer, and of the Mandel Quartet (harpsichord, percussion). He gave many concerts with the Quartet in the USA, Mexico, Brazil and Israel and many cities in Europe. From 1985 he has been the organizer of several musical-theatrical events (Planum, Rendezvous contemporary music festivals, Mozart Evenings at Buda Castle.)
From 1989 he has been head and artistic director of Kapolcs Days – Art Valley multicultural festival, and editor in chief of Völgyfutár, its news-sheet. He has been music director of Petőfi Theatre, Veszprém (1988–1990), the National Theatre (1990-1992), the New Theatre (1994–1996) and its director from 1998. From 2002 to 2003 he was a member of the Council of the Hungarian Festival Association, and its president from 2003.
His work includes ballet music, musicals and chamber music. Since 1976 he has composed music for more than 300 films and plays for such well known directors as Tamás Asher, János Szikora, János Ács, Imre Csiszár, Miklós Jancsó, András Jeles, Ferenc András, János Taub and others.
His main works are: Text and Music – a musical theatrical based on Beckett's radio play (1979); Christmas Day – 24 lessons for chamber ensemble (1980); Our Hearts – a requiem fragment (1983); A Workers' operetta – musical (1985); Doll’s House Story – music for percussion (1985); …per quattro tromboni… - for four trombones (1986); A Sigh – a string quartet commissioned by Kronos Quartet (1989); The Glassblower's Dream – a string quartet (1990-1998); Wyx-cycle – for a tape (1983-1997); Scrabbles-music – for chamber orchestra (1995); Liliomfi – musical play (1997). Much of his work has been recorded.
István Márta has been made a Freeman of Kapolcs.
Prizes:
1979 Nivo Prize of the Hungarian Television
1982 Audience Award of the Hungarian Radio
1982, 1987 Tribune International des Compositeurs (Paris)
1987 Erkel Prize
1998 Surcharge of the Theatre Critics (music of Peer Gynt)
1994 Podmaniczky Prize
1994 Déri János Prize
1997 Medal for Veszprém County
1998 President of the Republic's Gold Medal
2000 Knight's Cross of the Order of the Hungarian Republic
2001 Pro Regio Prize
2002 Hungarian Republic Order of the Cross (civil section)
Studied at the Zsuzsanna Lórántffy Music School between 1958 and 1966, later at the Béla Bartók Secondary School between 1966 and 1970. He entered the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest in 1970 and graduated in 1975 in the artistic-teacher department as a student of Rezső Sugár. In 1976 he attended a course on composition conducted by Witold Loutosławski.
In 1973 he started to collect folk music in Moldova (Romania) among the Hungarian Csangó people. Between 1972 and 1984, as a leader of a youth establishment, he organised concerts and performances (Club of Young Artists Music Section, Group of Young Musicians). From 1980 he appeared in independent music-making events (Music of our Age, MTV Entertaiment Evening, Warsaw Autumn).
He was also a member of Group 180 as an instrumentalist and composer, and of the Mandel Quartet (harpsichord, percussion). He gave many concerts with the Quartet in the USA, Mexico, Brazil and Israel and many cities in Europe. From 1985 he has been the organizer of several musical-theatrical events (Planum, Rendezvous contemporary music festivals, Mozart Evenings at Buda Castle.)
From 1989 he has been head and artistic director of Kapolcs Days – Art Valley multicultural festival, and editor in chief of Völgyfutár, its news-sheet. He has been music director of Petőfi Theatre, Veszprém (1988–1990), the National Theatre (1990-1992), the New Theatre (1994–1996) and its director from 1998. From 2002 to 2003 he was a member of the Council of the Hungarian Festival Association, and its president from 2003.
His work includes ballet music, musicals and chamber music. Since 1976 he has composed music for more than 300 films and plays for such well known directors as Tamás Asher, János Szikora, János Ács, Imre Csiszár, Miklós Jancsó, András Jeles, Ferenc András, János Taub and others.
His main works are: Text and Music – a musical theatrical based on Beckett's radio play (1979); Christmas Day – 24 lessons for chamber ensemble (1980); Our Hearts – a requiem fragment (1983); A Workers' operetta – musical (1985); Doll’s House Story – music for percussion (1985); …per quattro tromboni… - for four trombones (1986); A Sigh – a string quartet commissioned by Kronos Quartet (1989); The Glassblower's Dream – a string quartet (1990-1998); Wyx-cycle – for a tape (1983-1997); Scrabbles-music – for chamber orchestra (1995); Liliomfi – musical play (1997). Much of his work has been recorded.
István Márta has been made a Freeman of Kapolcs.
Prizes:
1979 Nivo Prize of the Hungarian Television
1982 Audience Award of the Hungarian Radio
1982, 1987 Tribune International des Compositeurs (Paris)
1987 Erkel Prize
1998 Surcharge of the Theatre Critics (music of Peer Gynt)
1994 Podmaniczky Prize
1994 Déri János Prize
1997 Medal for Veszprém County
1998 President of the Republic's Gold Medal
2000 Knight's Cross of the Order of the Hungarian Republic
2001 Pro Regio Prize
2002 Hungarian Republic Order of the Cross (civil section)
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 |
Márta István: Szíveink
(Hearts) |
Hungaroton | SLPX 12563 |
Own |
| 1987 | Amadinda | Hungaroton | SLPD 12800 | LP / Reissue on CD: HCD 12855 (1994) |
| 1994 | Amadinda | Hungaroton | HCD 12855 | Reissue of Hungaroton SLPD 12800 (1987) |
| 1998 |
Márta István: Sound in Sound out - Kapolcs Riadó
(István Márta: Kapolcs Alarm) |
Hungaroton | HCD 31829 | |
| 1999 |
Márta István művei
(Works) |
Hungaroton | HCD 31580 |