Gergely Ferenc
organ
Place of Birth
Budapest
Date of Birth
1914
10 September 1914 Budapest 18 March 1998 Budapest
Ferenc Gergely studied music at the organ department and singing teacher department of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest between 1933 and 1942 as pupil of Aladár Zalánfy (organ), Géza Wehner (piano), Albert Siklós (composing), Artúr Harmath, Lajos Bárdos and Jenő Ádám. Abroad he attended many study trips, in 1940 and 1942 he took part in the master courses of Günther Ramin, while in 1948 he was student of Olivier Messiaen.
From 1931 until his death he was organist of the Franciscan Church of Pest, and until 1948 he was conductor there. Also, he was organist of the University Church (1942-1949) and the Main Church of Dohány Street (1947-1950). His activity in music teaching is significant, too. He taught in the National Music School and in the Secondary School for Music (1943-1948) then in the Béla Bartók Secondary School for Music (1954-1969). Between 1947 and 1952 he was mandatory lecturer of church music at the theological faculty of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy, but he was also organ teacher there between 1948 and 1996 (from 1974 as pensioner).
He performed in many countries of Europe, and he was invited to Canada and to the USSR as well. It was always an interesting moment of his concerts when he was improvising on themes given by the audience. He recorded a lot of albums, published Liszt-compositions, but took part in the making of numerous organs. He translated Hans Klotzs book (On the organ) into Hungarian. In 1950 Alajos Werner and Ferenc Gergely organized a chorister training course for monks who have been banished from the monasteries. Later this became an officially recognized summer training course.
His achievements were honored by many prestigious awards. He received the Liszt Prize two times (1958, 1992), the silver degree of Order of Work Merit (1974), the title Merited Artist (1981), the golden degree of Order of Work Merit (1984) and the Kossuth Prize (1994). In 1998 Pope John Paul II awarded him with the title Knight of the Civil Division of the Order of Saint George.
Ferenc Gergely studied music at the organ department and singing teacher department of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music Budapest between 1933 and 1942 as pupil of Aladár Zalánfy (organ), Géza Wehner (piano), Albert Siklós (composing), Artúr Harmath, Lajos Bárdos and Jenő Ádám. Abroad he attended many study trips, in 1940 and 1942 he took part in the master courses of Günther Ramin, while in 1948 he was student of Olivier Messiaen.
From 1931 until his death he was organist of the Franciscan Church of Pest, and until 1948 he was conductor there. Also, he was organist of the University Church (1942-1949) and the Main Church of Dohány Street (1947-1950). His activity in music teaching is significant, too. He taught in the National Music School and in the Secondary School for Music (1943-1948) then in the Béla Bartók Secondary School for Music (1954-1969). Between 1947 and 1952 he was mandatory lecturer of church music at the theological faculty of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy, but he was also organ teacher there between 1948 and 1996 (from 1974 as pensioner).
He performed in many countries of Europe, and he was invited to Canada and to the USSR as well. It was always an interesting moment of his concerts when he was improvising on themes given by the audience. He recorded a lot of albums, published Liszt-compositions, but took part in the making of numerous organs. He translated Hans Klotzs book (On the organ) into Hungarian. In 1950 Alajos Werner and Ferenc Gergely organized a chorister training course for monks who have been banished from the monasteries. Later this became an officially recognized summer training course.
His achievements were honored by many prestigious awards. He received the Liszt Prize two times (1958, 1992), the silver degree of Order of Work Merit (1974), the title Merited Artist (1981), the golden degree of Order of Work Merit (1984) and the Kossuth Prize (1994). In 1998 Pope John Paul II awarded him with the title Knight of the Civil Division of the Order of Saint George.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 |
Csendes éj
(Silent Night) |
Hungaroton | SLPX 16598 | Reissue on CD: HCD 16598 (1994) |
| 1985 | A Mátyás templom orgonája | Hungaroton | ||
| 1991 | Magyarország köszönti II. János Pált | Hungaroton | SLPX 31432 | LP |
| 1994 |
Csendes éj
(Silent Night) |
Hungaroton | HCD 16598 | Reissue of Hungaroton SLPX 16598 (1976) |