Magyar
Zoltán Kodály
1882-1967
Zoltán Kodály, composer, musicologist and educator was born in Kecskemét. His father was employed by the Royal Hungarian Railway and therefore the family moved often. Kodály spent 7 years of his early childhood in Galánta, Pozsony county. His life in this village, with its rich living Hungarian folklore, music and dance had a deep and lasting impression on him. The roots for his love of Hungarian folk music are in Galánta.
Mile-stones in Zoltán Kodály’s life
1882 Born December 16, in Kecskemét, Hungary
1883 Family moves to Szob,
1885 Family moves to Galánta, where his father is station-master. Kodály attends elementary school from 1888.
1892 Family moves to Nagyszombat, Kodály attends High School, learns to play the piano, violin, viola and cello, plays in the High School Band, sings in the Church Choir, plays chamber music at home. First composition.
1898 First composition for orchestra is presented.
1900 Graduates with honors on June 13th.
1900-1905 Attends the University of Science and the Music Academy in
Budapest at the same time, studying to become an artist and a scholar. Receives three degrees: 1904, composition, 1905, Hungarian-German teacher’s diploma and in 1906 a Doctorate of Philosophy.
1905-16 Folk music-collecting tours: Szeged, Mátyusföld, Northern Hungary
(Felvidék), Nyitra county, Transylvania, Bukovina (among Csangos), Kassa, Nagyszalonta; 1921-25 in West Hungary, Komárom, Nógrád, Szatmár; 1932 Hódmezővásárhely; 1950 Mohács.
1907 Appointed professor to teach solmization and music theory at the Music Academy. From 1908 he teaches also composition.
1910 Marries Emma Sándor. His String Quartet I. is presented in Zürich, Switzerland.
1911 Founds the New Hungarian Music Society with Béla Bartók.
1917 Pacsirtaszó is presented at the National Theater.
1918 Becomes music critic to the papers: Pesti Napló and Nyugat.
1919 In spring, appointed vice-principal of the Music Academy, in fall he is sent on leave and a disciplinary investigation is started against him.
1920 He is stripped of his vice-principal nomination
1921 Publishes – together with Béla Bartók – 150 Hungarian folk songs from Transylvania. In September he teaches again at the Academy. Signs contract with Universal to publish his works.
1923 Psalmus Hungaricus is presented
1925 First Children Choirs introduce songs Villő and Túrót eszik a cigány.
1926 Psalmus Hungaricus is presented in Zürich, first time abroad.
Háry János is shown at the Zoltán Kodály, 1925Budapest Opera House.
1927 Directs the Psalmus Hungaricus in Holland, England, Germany and Switzerland. Starts a Music History series titled Hungarian Musical Compositions.
1928 Founds – together with Bartók – the Hungarian branch of the International Society of Modern Music. The Psalmus is shown in Milano, Italy. Gets acquainted with Toscanini.
1929 Directs the Psalmus for the first time in Budapest.
1930 Toscanini presents Summer Night (Nyári este) in Budapest.
He becomes lecturer at the University. In December Marosszéki táncok is presented.
1931 Awarded with the Corvin Koszorú.
1932 Székelyfonó is presented at the Opera House. In December, there are concerts in celebration of his 50th birthday.
1933 Székelyfonó is presented in Milano. Holds a lecture at the Folklore Society titled Folklore and Music History. Dances of Galánta are presented on October 23.
1934 Appointed as member of the National Literature and Art Council.
1935 The Opera house presents Kuruc tale.
1936 Te Deum of Budavár is presented.
1938 Directs the 1000 member Youth Choir in Nagykőrös, directs a concert put together from his works in Szeged.
1939 Participates in the organization of the first Competition of Correct Pronunciation at the University. Organizes a folk song competition at the Ranolder Institute. Mengelberg presents Felszállott a páva written for the Concertgebow Orchestra of Amsterdam.
1940 Participates at several concerts of the Singing Youth.
1941 Frederick Stock presents the Concerto written for the Chicago Symphonic Orchestra. Participates in the jury of the first Music Reading Competition. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences does not recommend his election as corresponding member.
1942 Kodály year. In honor of his 60th birthday there are numerous concerts during the year. He retires from teaching.
1943 Directs his Concerto in Budapest. Becomes corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences. Elected honorary citizen of Galánta.
1944 Honorary doctorate at University of Kolozsvár. Directs the Psalmus in Kolozsvár for the last time.
1945 Elected director of the Hungarian Art Council, voted ordinary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, appointed director of the Board of Directors of the Music Academy.
1946 Elected director and honorary member of the Academy of Sciences, holds a lecture about Bartók and the Hungarian Youth, goes on an extended concert tour in Western Europe and the United States.
1947 Attends concerts, given in honor of his 65th birthday. Awarded the Large Cross of the Order of the Hungarian Republic, elected honorary citizen of Kecskemét.
1948 The Opera House presents Cinka Panna. Receives Kossuth award. Directs in Stockholm, Paris and London.
1949 Chairs several times the sessions of the Academy of Sciences. Goes on a concert tour in Western Europe.
1950 Gives a speech at the concert in honor of Béla Bartók at the Opera House. Honored by the president of Poland.
1951 The Hungarian National Folk Dance Ensemble presents the Kállai kettős. Elected as director of the Music Science Committee of the Academy of Sciences.
1952 Receives second Kossuth award, is honored with First Order of the Hungarian Republic and the title of Outstanding Artist.
1958 On November 22, his wife of 49 years dies.
1959 Marries the 19 year old Sarolta Péczely on December 18th. His last years are happy and full of work and travel.
1905-67 Travels extensively, gives countless speeches, takes part in
competitions on language and music, dedicates much of his time to music education of children, is director, member and honorary member of various organizations, committees, societies. Participates in the work of many organizations
1967 Kodály Zoltán, a truly great Hungarian, dies on March 6.
„If I were asked to name the composer whose works are the most perfect embodiment of the Hungarian spirit, I would answer, Kodály. His work proves his faith in the Hungarian spirit. The obvious explanation is that all Kodály’s composing activity is rooted only in Hungarian soil, but the deep inner reason is his unshakable faith and trust in the constructive power and future of his people.” (Bartók)
Emese Kerkay
Source: Eősze László, Kodály Zoltán élete és munkássága, Zeneműkiadű Vállalat, Budapest, 1956
American Hungarian Museum, No. 67, 2000