Hungarian Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Hungarian String Quartet was a musical ensemble
of world renown, particularly famous for its performances of quartets by Beethoven
and Bartók
. The quartet was founded in Budapest
in 1935 (as the New Hungarian Quartet) and was disbanded in 1972.
2nd violin:
Viola:
Violoncello:
and Zoltán Kodály
at Budapest Academy) as the first violin, but was set onto a balanced footing when the virtuoso violinist Zoltán Székely (graduate of the same Academy, as was Denes Koromzay (1913–2001)) was recruited in 1937. At that point Sándor Végh moved to the second violin desk, and in 1940 he left to found the Végh Quartet
. He was then replaced by the Russia
n Alexandre Moszkowsky. The Quartet had made its debut in 1935, and met with swift success. Szekely was a friend of Béla Bartók
's, and the group became rapidly known by giving the Hungarian première performance of the Bartok 5th Quartet, which it studied with the composer. By 1938, the group had been heard in every major city of Western Europe.
During the war they were trapped in Holland, and devoted the period to the intensive study of the Beethoven
quartets, which were subsequently launched upon the world in the brilliant career which the group achieved after 1945. In 1950 they settled in the USA. In around 1956 the cello, and around 1960 the second violin desk, was reassigned, and in this new form the Quartet continued to maintain its busy programme of performance until 1972, while also undertaking teaching positions and the coaching of younger instrumentalists. In 1957, the newly configured Quartet performed in Boston for the Peabody Mason Concert series.
In the 1966 issue recordings of the Beethoven cycle, it is stated that Székely plays the 'Michelangelo' Stradivarius
(1718), Kuttner plays the 'Santa Theresa' Petrus Guarnerius
(1704), Koromzay plays a 1766 instrument by M. Decanet, and Magyar has a cello by Alessandro Gagliano of 1706.
There are two complete cycles of the Beethoven quartets, both recorded in Paris
:
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
of world renown, particularly famous for its performances of quartets by Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
and Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
. The quartet was founded in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in 1935 (as the New Hungarian Quartet) and was disbanded in 1972.
Members
1st violin:- Sándor VéghSándor VéghSándor Végh was a Hungarian, later French, violinist and conductor. He was best known as one of the great chamber music violinists of the twentieth century.- Education :...
(1935–1937) - Zoltán SzékelyZoltán SzékelyZoltán Székely was a violinist and composer.Székely studied violin with Jenő Hubay and composition with Zoltán Kodály at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. He composed mainly chamber music...
(1937–1972)
2nd violin:
- Péter Szervánsky (1935–1937)
- Sándor Végh (1937–1940)
- Alexandre Moszkowsky (1940–1959)
- Mihaly Kuttner (1959–1972)
Viola:
- Denes Koromzay (1935–1972)
Violoncello:
- Pal Hermann (1935-1940)
- Vilmos Palotai (1940-c1956)
- Gabor Magyar (c1956-1972)
Origins
The Quartet was originally brought together with Sándor Végh (a pupil of Jenő HubayJeno Hubay
Eugen Huber , better known by his Hungarian name Jenő Hubay , was a Hungarian violinist, composer and music teacher.-Early life:Eugen Huber was born into a German family of musicians in Pest, Hungary...
and Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
at Budapest Academy) as the first violin, but was set onto a balanced footing when the virtuoso violinist Zoltán Székely (graduate of the same Academy, as was Denes Koromzay (1913–2001)) was recruited in 1937. At that point Sándor Végh moved to the second violin desk, and in 1940 he left to found the Végh Quartet
Végh Quartet
The Végh Quartet was a Hungarian string quartet founded in 1940 and led by its first violinist Sándor Végh for 40 years. The quartet was based in Budapest until it departed Hungary in 1946. It is particularly known for its recordings of the Beethoven and Bartók cycles...
. He was then replaced by the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Alexandre Moszkowsky. The Quartet had made its debut in 1935, and met with swift success. Szekely was a friend of Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
's, and the group became rapidly known by giving the Hungarian première performance of the Bartok 5th Quartet, which it studied with the composer. By 1938, the group had been heard in every major city of Western Europe.
During the war they were trapped in Holland, and devoted the period to the intensive study of the Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
quartets, which were subsequently launched upon the world in the brilliant career which the group achieved after 1945. In 1950 they settled in the USA. In around 1956 the cello, and around 1960 the second violin desk, was reassigned, and in this new form the Quartet continued to maintain its busy programme of performance until 1972, while also undertaking teaching positions and the coaching of younger instrumentalists. In 1957, the newly configured Quartet performed in Boston for the Peabody Mason Concert series.
In the 1966 issue recordings of the Beethoven cycle, it is stated that Székely plays the 'Michelangelo' Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
(1718), Kuttner plays the 'Santa Theresa' Petrus Guarnerius
Guarneri
The Guarneri is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati and Stradivari families...
(1704), Koromzay plays a 1766 instrument by M. Decanet, and Magyar has a cello by Alessandro Gagliano of 1706.
Recordings
(Examples)- Schubert: Quartet in D minor 'Death and the Maiden D 810 (Nixa LP CLP 1152) (About 1952).
- Schubert: Quartet in D minor 'Death and the Maiden' D 810 (Vox LP STPL 512.520).
- Schubert: Quartet in C major D 887 (Columbia CX 1566) (EMG review Sep 1958).
- Schubert: Quintet in A major D 667 'The Trout' with Louis KentnerLouis KentnerLouis Kentner was a Hungarian, later British, pianist who excelled in the works of Chopin and Liszt, as well as the Hungarian repertoire....
, Georg Hörtnagel (Vox STPL 512.690). - SchumannRobert SchumannRobert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
: Quintet in E flat major op 44, with George Solchany, piano. (Székely-Moszkowsky-Koromzay-Magyar) (Discophiles Français LP DF 730.030). - Haydn: Quartets op 64 no 5; op 76 no 2. (Columbia LP CX 1527) (EMG review July 1958).
- Haydn: Quartets in D major op 65 no 5; in F major op 77 no 2. (Vox STPL 512.080).
- Mozart: Quartets in E flat major K 428; in A major K 464 (Columbia LP CX 1599). (EMG reviews May 1959).
- Mozart: Quartets in B flat major K 458; in C major K 475 (STPL 512.130).
- Tchaikovsky: Quartet no 1 in D major op 11 (Columbia LP CX 1581). (EMG review March 1959).
- BorodinBorodinBorodin , or Borodina is a Russian last name and may refer to:*Alexander Borodin , Russian composer and chemist*Alexander Parfeniyevich Borodin, Russian scientist in the field of rail transport...
: Quartet no 2 in D major (Columbia LP CX 1581). (EMG review March 1959). - KodályZoltán KodályZoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
: Quartet no 2 in D major (Columbia LP CX 1614) (EMG review Jan 1959). - Villa-Lobos: Quartet no 6 (Columbia LP CX 1614) (EMG review Jan 1959).
There are two complete cycles of the Beethoven quartets, both recorded in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
:
- Mono 1953 set with the Székely-Moszkowsky-Koromzay-Palotai line-up.
- Stereo set (1960s) with the Székely-Kuttner-Koromzay-Magyar group. In UK this was issued on His Master's Voice in 1966 in the HQS series.
Sources
- E.M.G., The Art of Record Buying 1960 (EMG, London 1960).
- E. Sackville-West and D. Shawe-Taylor, The Record Year 2 (Collins, London 1953).
- R. Stowell, The Cambridge Companion to the String Quartet (Cambridge 2003).
- Hungarian Quartet, Beethoven Quartet recordings (HMV, Hayes 1966). (Sleevenotes.)
- Hungarian Quartet, Schubert D 810 recording (Vox, New York STPL 512.520). (Sleevenotes.)
- C. Kenneson, Székely and Bartok: the story of a friendship (Amadeus Publications 1994).
- Obituary of Koromzay http://www.oberlin.edu/alummag/oamcurrent/oam_fall2002/notes_koromzay.htm
- Obituary of Székely http://www.banffcentre.ca/bisqc/general/szekely_obit.asp
- Buffalo Chamber Music Society checklist of dates http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:EkNvL5g5dUoJ:www.bflochambermusic.org/assets/pdf/bcms_personnel.pdf+Vilmos+Palotai&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=17&gl=uk&client=firefox-a