György Kurtág
Born: February 19, 1926; Lugoj, Romania
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György Kurtág is one of the more highly esteemed composers of the late twentieth century. He is not well known outside of Europe, writing little and not prone to acts of self-promotion. Most composers would not have been able to establish a career in this manner.
His hometown changed hands from Hungary to Romania. What he saw while under Communist rule before he went west no doubt shaped the peculiar tensions of his music, which often
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Works
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...Aprčs une lecture de Rimbaud (1)
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...concertante..., for violin, viola & orchestra, Op. 42 (1)
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...pas ŕ pas - nulle part..., Op. 36 (1)
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A flower for Nuria (as it opens), for piano (1)
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A Kis Csáva (2)
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Arioso "Hommage ŕ Walter Levin 85" (1)
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Arnyak (2)
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Arnyak, for double bass (1)
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Attila József - Fragments, Op. 20 (1)
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Auf! Schwung! (2)
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Aus der Ferne II (1)
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Aus der Ferne III (4)
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Aus der Ferne V (1)
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Az hit (2)
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C'erano due Fiori (1)
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Capriccioso 'Luminoso', for piano (1)
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Choruses (8), Op. 23 (1)
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Doloroso (3)
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Double Concerto, Op. 27 no 2 (1)
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Duets (8) for Violin and Cimbalom, Op. 4 (2)
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Enfolding sounds, for piano (1)
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Farewell (1)
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Grabstein for Stephan, Op 15c (2)
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Grabstein for Stephan, Op 15c: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Hipartita, Op. 43 (2)
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Hommage ŕ Bach (3)
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Hommage ŕ Berényi Ferenc 70 (2)
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Hommage ŕ Farkas Ferenc (2), for piano (1)
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Hommage ŕ Jacob Obrecht (1)
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Hommage ŕ Johann Sebastian Bach for flute (1)
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Hommage ŕ Mihály András, Op. 13 "12 Microludes for String Quartet" (3)
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Hommage ŕ Pierre Boulez (1)
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Hommage a Robert Schumann, Op. 15d (3)
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Hommage ŕ Stockhausen (1)
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Hommage ŕ Varčse (1)
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Hölderlin-Gesänge, Op. 35 (1)
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Illés Arpadné emlékére, for viola (1)
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In memoriam Aczél György (1)
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In Nomine - all'ongherese (1)
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Inscription on a grave in Cornwall, Op. 34 (1)
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Játékok (Games), Books 1-8: Excerpt(s) (5)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: A megvadult lenhajó láng (The Mad Girl with the Flaxen Hair) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: An apocryphal hymn (In the style of Alfred Schnittke) - to Judit Frigyes (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Antiphony in F sharp (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Apocryphal hymn (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Béla Bartók: Canon at the lower fifth (Mikrokosmos Book I) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Birthday Elegy for Judit (2)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 1 No. 24, Hoquetus (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 1 No. 2A, Tenyeres (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 1, No. 25A, Örökmozgó (taláit tárgy) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 2 No. 23, Harangvirág (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 2 No. 33, Csomók (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 2 No. 34, Antifona fiszben (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 14, Bogáncs (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 16, Hempergös (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 28, Foszlányok egy kolinda emlékképéböl, Hommage ŕ Farkas Fer (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 30, Petruska idézése, Hommage ŕ Farkas Ferenc 3 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 32, Szerelem, szerelem, játkozott gyötrelem...Hommage ŕ Farka (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 38, Sirató 1 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 39, Hommage ŕ Christian Wolff (Félálomban) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 40, Hommage ŕ Domenico Scarlatti (3)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 41, Harmonika, Hommage ŕ Borsody László (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 44, Nyuszicsököny (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 46, Felhangjáték (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 3 No. 50, Hommage ŕ Kurtág Márta (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4 No. 2, Dühös korál (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4 No. 4, Hommage ŕ Stravinsky (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4 No. 6, Hommage ŕ Halmágyi Mihály (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4 No. 8, Hommage ŕ Soproni, In memoriam matris carissimae (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Glocken (Hommage ŕ Stravinsky) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Hommage ŕ Halmágyi Mihály (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Hommage ŕ Soproni (In memoriam matris carissimae) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Kyrie (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Spiel mit dem Unendlichen (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Studie zu 'Hölderlin' (I) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 4. Zorniger Choral (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 5 No. 14, Preludium és Korál (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 5 No. 24, Mint az mezei viragoc...(Sirató 2) In memoriam Ligeti Ilo (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 5 No. 9, Aus der Ferne, Alfred Schlee zum 80. Geburstag (2)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8, Sirató 1a (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8, Tanulmány a "Hölderlin" - hez (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8. Hommage ŕ J.S.B (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8. Klagegesang (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8. Schläge-Zank (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8. Studie zu 'Hölderlin' (II) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8. Virág az ember (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8. Virág az ember (Blumen die Menschen...) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8/1, No. 20B, Verés - Veszekedés (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8/1, No. 25B, ...és mégegyszer: Virág az ember... (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Book 8/1, No. 3A, Virág az ember (...ölelkezo hangok) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Consolation sereine - to Renee Jonker (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Dirge (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Egy igaz ember emlékére (In Memory of a Just Person) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Encores: J.S. Bach: Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 614 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Encores: J.S. Bach: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Encores: Study to Pilinszky's Hölderlin (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Evocation of Petrushka (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Fugitive thoughts about the Alberti bass - to András Szollosy (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Hommage ŕ Csajkovszkij (Homage to Tchaikovsky) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Hommage ŕ M. K. (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Hommage ŕ Nancy Sinatra (Homage to Nancy Sinatra) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Hommage ŕ Schubert (2)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: In Memoriam András Mihály (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: J.S. Bach: Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 614 - Hommage ŕ Reinbert de (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: J.S. Bach: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit: Sonatina from Cantata No (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: J.S.Bach: Gott durch deine Güte, BWV 600 - to Tamás Várkonyi (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Keringo (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Knots (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Korál (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Melody (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Merran's dream - Caliban detecting-rebuilding Mirranda's dream (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: No. 1 Hommage ŕ Farkas Ferenc (Petruschkas Beschörung) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: No. 2, Hommage ŕ Farkas Ferenc (Lieder im Herzen, bittere Schmerzen) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: No. 3, Nyuszicsököny (Häschen trotzig) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: No. 4, Örökmozgó (talátt tárgy) (Perpetuum mobile) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: No. 5, Hommage ŕ Farkas Ferenc (Erinnerungsbrocken aus einer Kolindenm (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: No. 6, A megvadult lenhajú lány (La fille aux cheveux de lin) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. (9) A Little Song for Yehuda (2004) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 1/11 A1. (the young boxer's lighter moments) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 1/12 B2. Gallop (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 1/5 B1. a: C's night song / Part 1. 1/5 B1. b: (...and here is o (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 2/1. Hommage ŕ Endre Bálint (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 2/39. Knots (2) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 2/41. Antiphony in f-sharp (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 3/12. Thistle (2)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 3/13. Elegy for the left hand (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 3/14. Tumble-bunny (2)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 3/22. Stubborn Knots (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 3/26. Hommage Ferenc Farkas (3) (evocation of Petrushka) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 3/3. The mind will have its freedom... (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 4/4. Bells (Hommage ŕ Stravinsky) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 5/11. Prelude... (1979) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 5/15. ...and Chorale (for Benjamin Rajeczky's 80th birthday) (19 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 5/18. Flowers we are... (from the Sayings of Péter Bornemisza, 3 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 5/19. Grassblades in memory of Klára Martyn (1982) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 5/33. Capriccioso - luminoso - for Jeno Szervánszky's 80th birth (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 6/25. Les Adieux (in Janáceks Manier) (1992) (3)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 6/3. Versetto: Temptavit Deus Abraham... (apocryphal organum) (1 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 7/14. A flower to Márta (1997) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. 7/26. In memoriam Attila Bozay (1999) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/11 A (sleepily) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/11B Portrait (1 / c) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/18 B Twittering (for four hands) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/1B Prelude and Waltz in C (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/23 Hommage ŕ Paganini (la nuova campanella) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/2A Palm Stroke (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/4A Elbows (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/4A Objet trouvé (2) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. I/5B Little Chorale (1) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. II/26 Fifths (3/a, 3/b) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. II/33 Jumping Fifths (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. III/19 (... and round and round it goes) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. III/20 Double notes (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. III/37 Five-finger Quarrel (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. III/40 Hommage ŕ Stockhausen (from the Twelve New Microludes) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. III/9 Pen Drawing, Valediction to Erzsébet Schaár (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. IV/14 Hommage ŕ Paganini (for two pianos) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. V/30 An apocryphal hymn (in the style of Alfred Schnittke) - for Yvar Mikashoff (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. V/32 Helyettem kis virág (... lovely greetings to Grete Spinnrad (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. V/40 3 In memoriam: 1. In memoriam György Szoltsányi (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. V/40 3 In memoriam: 2. Hommage tardif ŕ Karskaya (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. V/40 3 In memoriam: 3. In memoriam Maurice Fleuret (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VI/2 For Dóra Antal's Birthday (2nd Version) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VI/3 Versetto: Temptavit Deus Abraham ... (apocryhphal organum) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VII/17 Hommage ŕ Ferenc Berényi 70 (Kelemen Mikes says: ) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VII/19 In memoriam Ilona Rozsnyai (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VII/29 ... emlékek, kicsi ólomkatonák ... (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VIII Apple-flower (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VIII Beating - Quarrelling (for four hands) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VIII Flowers We Are... - Interlacing sounds (for three hands) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 1. VIII Medal - in memoriam Lajos Hernádi (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. (8) In memoriam György Sebok (1999-2000) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. (9) Consolation sereine (2004) - für Renee und die ganze Familie (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/1 A1. Perpetuum mobile (objet trouvé) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/10 B3. Fifths (2) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/12 B1. Three-finger Play (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/13 A2. (five little piano pieces) No. 5: Presto (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/13 B1. Boisterous Csárdás (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/13 B2. Jerking (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/21. Hommage ŕ Tchaikovsky (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/3 A1. Flowers We Are, Frail Flowers... (1a) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 1/3 B2. ...flowers also the stars... (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 2/27. Fancifully (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 3/16. Shadow-Play (3) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 3/21. Signs in black (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 6/13. Fundamentals (1) - für Marc André Fitze (1991) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 6/31. A Quiet Farewell to Endre Székely version 2 (1991) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 6/37. Erno Lendvay in memoriam (1993) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 6/48. ...humble regard sur Olivier Messiaen... version 'b' (1993 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 7/16. Ligatura to Ligeti (1997) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 7/18. Waltz (2) (1998) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 7/22. ...eine Blume für Ulrike Schuster... (1998) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 7/25. Hymenćus - für Sussanne und Mark Sattler (1997) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. 7/28. Hommage ŕ Beatrice Stein (2000) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit / Sonatina, BWV 106 (Actus t (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/10A The Stone-frog Crawled Along ... (Hommage ŕ Farkas 1) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/10A Waltz (1) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/10B Hot Cockles (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/17A Scale from One to Eight (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/17B Flowers We Are ... (4/b) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/19A Dumb-show (Quarrelling 2) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/19A Quarrelling (1) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/25A Perpetuum Mobile (Objet trouvé) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/25B ... and once more: Flowers We Are... (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/6A Toddling (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. I/9A The Bunny and the Fox (Composed by Krisztina Takács when sh (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. III/34 Hommage ŕ Varčse (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. III/35 Stubbunny (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. III/40 Twelve New Microludes, No. 2 (Agitato) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. V/25 Organ and bells in memory of Doctor László Dobszay (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/10 Doina (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/11 Monkeying (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/12A Hungarian Lesson for Foreigners (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/14 Fundamentals (2) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/16 Phan! Fahr! Zürn! (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/26 András Hajdú is 60 (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VI/36 Ligatura y (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VII/11 ... In memoriam Edison Denisov (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VII/26 Flowers We Are... - for Miyako (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Part 2. VIII Flowers We Are... - for Miyako (for four hands) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Preludium (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Scraps of a colinda melody faintly recollected (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Sirens of the Deluge (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Study to Pilinszky's Hölderlin (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Tränen (Tears) (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Un brin de bruyčre ŕ Witold (1)
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Játékok (Games), for piano: Versetto (Apocryphal Organum) (1)
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Játékok, Vol. 5 (1)
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Játékok: Aus der Ferne (1)
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Játékok: Bells (1)
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Játékok: Botladozva (1)
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Játékok: Furious Chorale (1)
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Játékok: Hommage ŕ Halmágyi Mihály (1)
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Játékok: Hommage ŕ J.S.B. (1)
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Játékok: Hommage ŕ Soproni (1)
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Játékok: In memoriam Sebök György (1)
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Játékok: Les Adieux (in Janáceks Manier) (1)
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Játékok: Pilinszky János: Keringö (1)
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Játékok: Play with infinity (1)
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Játékok: Responsorium (Pilinszky: Egy hófehér kar...) (1)
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Játékok: Sirató (1)
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Játékok: Study to Pilinszky's "Hölderlin" (1)
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Jelek, Op. 5 (2)
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Jelek, Op. 5b (3)
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Kafka Fragments, Op. 24 (3)
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Kroó György in memoriam (3)
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Ligatura (1)
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Ligatura, Op. 31b (2)
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Like the flowers of the field, for piano (1)
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Messages de feu Demoiselle R V Troussova, Op. 17 (2)
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Messages of the late R. V. Troussova, 21 Poems by Rimma Dalos for soprano & chamber ensemble, Op 17 (1)
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Mesto, lacrimoso, for viola (1)
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Microludes (12) (1)
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Microludes (12) "Hommage ŕ Kadosa" (1)
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Misterioso - altero, for viola (1)
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Moments musicaux (6) for String Quartet, Op. 44 (2)
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Movement for Viola and Orchestra (1)
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New Microludes (12) (1)
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Officium breve in memoriam Andreae Szervánsky, Op. 28 (3)
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Omaggio a Luigi Nono Op. 16 (1)
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Omaggio a Luigi Nono Op. 16: Hommage ŕ Tristan (1)
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Pieces (9) for Viola solo (1)
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Pilinszky János - Gérard de Nerval, Op. 5b (6)
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Poems (4) of Anna Akhmatova, for voice & orchestra, Op. 41 (1)
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Postface ŕ Kocsis Zoltán, for piano (1)
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Quartet for Strings, Op. 1 (2)
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Quartet for Strings, Op. 13 "Hommage ŕ Mihály András" (4)
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Quasi una Fantasia, Op. 27 no 1 (1)
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Quintet for Winds, Op. 2 (4)
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Requiem po drugu, Op. 26 (1)
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S. K. - Remembrance Noise, Op. 12 (1)
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Samuel Beckett - What Is the Word, Op. 30b (1)
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Samuel Beckett: le nain – Hommage a Roland Moser (1)
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Scenes from a Novel, Op. 19 (2)
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Signs, Games and Messages (3)
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Signs, Games and Messages: Message-consolation for Christian Sutter (2)
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Sirens of the Deluge, for piano (1)
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Songs of Despair and Sorrow, Op. 18 (1)
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Splinters, Op. 6c (2)
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Stele, Op. 33 (2)
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Szálkák (Splinters), for cimbalom, Op. 6/c (1)
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Szorongós Es Vigasztalós H. J. -nek, for viola (1)
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The Sayings of Péter Bornemisza, Op. 7 (1)
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Versetto organum apocryfum (1)
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Versetto: Temptavit Deus Abraham, for piano (1)
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Work(s) (2)
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Biography |
by John Keillor
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György Kurtág is one of the more highly esteemed composers of the late twentieth century. He is not well known outside of Europe, writing little and not prone to acts of self-promotion. Most composers would not have been able to establish a career in this manner.
His hometown changed hands from Hungary to Romania. What he saw while under Communist rule before he went west no doubt shaped the peculiar tensions of his music, which often sounds like lessons learned through surviving persecution. In 1940, he studied piano with Magda Kardos and composition from Max Eisikovits, at Temesvár (Timisoara, Romania). He then moved to Budapest in 1946, enrolling in the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, studying composition with Sándor Veress and Ferenc Farkas, as well as piano with Pál Kadosa and chamber music with Leó Weiner. These people remained proud Hungarians, though war had altered the international borders drastically. Kurtág officially became a Hungarian citizen in 1948. In the early part of the 1950s, he continued his studies of composition, chamber music, and piano. He was an outstanding student, winning the Erkl prize in 1954 and 1956. In 1957 - 1958 he went west for a one-year stay in Paris, studying with Marianne Stein and attending courses of Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen.
Though the standard of living in democratic France was no doubt higher than communist Hungary, Kurtág returned home as repetiteur of soloists with the Hungarian National Philharmonia throughout most the 1960s. He was also professor at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest, first of piano, then of chamber music. In 1971, he had his second appointment in the west. This time it was a one-year stay in West Berlin as grantee of the DAAD scholarship. His reputation began to gain more ground.
What little he had written demonstrated itself as the work of genius, beginning with the brief Quartetto per archi opus 1 from 1959. A perfect synthesis of Webern and Bartók, this work has an undistracted intelligence about it, a courage that intellectuals required to survive the tyranny of the Soviets. He did seem entirely at odds with the Communists, having written some works with anti-American sentiment, but this appeared exclusively before his visit to Paris in the 1950s. The 1960s and 1970s were been fairly uneventful, and his catalog continued to grow at a startlingly slow rate. However, what works he had written made a large impression.
After his retirement from the Liszt Academy in 1986, he lived in Germany and Austria. In 1987, one year after leaving Hungary, he immediately became a member of the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste, Munich, as well as a member of the Akademie der Künste, Berlin. His works were getting more sought after, and he was relentlessly sought after as an instructor.
Living at a comparatively brisker, international pace, in 1993 he was awarded the Prix de Composition Musicale by the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco, for his Grabstein für Stephan and Op. 27 No. 2 (Double Concerto); the Herder Prize by the Freiherr-vom-Stein Stiftung, Hamburg; and the Premio Feltrinelli by the Accademia dei Lincei, Rome. That same year, Kurtág was invited to stay in Berlin as composer in residence with the Berliner Philharmoniker for two years. This was followed by a residency with the Wiener Konzerthaus and, in 1998, the Kossuth Prize from the Hungarian states for his life's work.
Kurtág had carved his place in the Western world while still behind the Iron Curtain, emerging in the 1980s as an indisputably necessary voice. |
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