Hungarian Choral Music CD recordings

When you have a nation that was rich in tradition before the first Europeans ever arrived in North America, you have a nation with millennia-old musical heritage, and yes, sometimes age does matter. Unlike many countries, Hungarian choral ensembles focus particularly on home-grown music by such internationally-known composers like Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok. If you're a choral music fan, you've heard Kodaly, Bartok and other Hungarian choral composers, even if you don't know it. But no one does it like the Hungarians!

Hungarian National Chorus: Hungarian Contemporary Choral Works

With the professional guidance of Matyas Antal, the HNC has made it a priority to present contemporary and 20th century Hungarian choral music. The ensemble appears every year in concerts of the Contemporary Music and Mini Festivals, presenting new Hungarian choral works, mainly premieres. Included on this CD are 21 pieces, all written between 1984 and 1997. There are some nice sacred songs, such as M. Paszti's "Puer natus est nobis," two motets by M. Csemeiczky, "Hodie Christus natus est" and "Ave Regina caelorum, L. Huszar's "Agnus Dei" and two by J. Sari, "Benedictus es Domine" and "Alleluia." The secular material is also interesting, such as A. Bozay's "Siralmas nekem (Woeful It Is)," on the trials of an immigrant; M. Hollos' "Among the Crowd, at Koday's Catafalque," "Altato" and "Dal" (Lullaby and Song), L. Kiraly's "Shalom, Israel," M. Kocsar's "O dawn, dawn" and "Split up, Cataract!," and Zs. Durko's eclectic "Snapshots from Kalevala" and his dramatic "Ilmarinen." All a cappella, complex, difficult material beautifully performed by Hungary's finest chorus.

Aurin Girls' Choir: Aurin Girl's Choir Vol 3

Ave Maria - Franz Biebl
Laudate pueri - Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Ave maria - Johannes Brahms
Regnum mundi - Jean Lheritier
Laudate - Rudi Tas
Hervadaskor - Emil Petrovics
Cantate Domino - Levente Gyongyosi
Daemon irrepit callidus - Gyorgy Orban
Chi d'amor sente - Traditional hungarian folksong
Oktobernek elsejen - Traditional hungarian folksong
Villo - Zoltan Kodaly
Sarkozi karikazo - Jozsef Karai
Bon jour mon coeur - Orlandus lassus
Vous perdez tante de me - Sermizy / Marot
Musica - Jacobus Gallus
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - Michael Praetorius
Pastime with good company - Henry VIII
Deep River - Traditional spiritual

If our daughter was interested in becoming a fine choral musician, and money was no object, we would without hesitation send her to the Kodaly Zoltan Special Music Elementary and Grammar School, Music School and Conservatory in Kecskemet, Hungary. There, language and cultural obstacles aside, we would expect director Laszlo Duranyik to work his magic, either in his Miraculum Children's Choir, to which we just gave a rave review, or in the smaller Aurin Girls' Choir, comprised of selected girls over 14 who were previously members of Miraculum, seen here posing confidently on a stairway in the liner notes. We can tell from the first strains of Biebl's "Ave Maria" how good this choir is, and each singer individually. 18 cuts, a lot of classical sacred material such as "Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's "Laudate pueri," Brahms' "Ave Maria," Gyongyosi's "Cantate domino" and others. Traditional Hungarian folksongs "Sir a kisgalambom" and "Oktobernek elsejen,' Hungarian master Zoltan Kodaly's "Chi d'amor sente" and "Villo," Jozsef Karai's "Sarkozi karikazo," and bonus tracks "Musica" by Jacobus Gallus, Praetorius' "Es is ein Ros entsprungen" and the traditional spiritual "Deep River" are among our favorites. Every piece here is stunning, inspiring and exquisite!

Listen to "Daemon irrepit callidus" in Real Audio.

8723 CD $15.95

Miraculum: Miraculum Children's Choir 3

Frohliche Spiele - Ferenc Liszt
Pueri hebraeorum - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Lengyel Laszlo - Zoltan Kodaly
Jo szanut, jo fejsze - Miklos Kocsar
Egyetem-begyetem - Zoltan Kodaly
Cat and Dog - Miklos Kocsar
Cosy Can Nap - James Kirkup
Cat - Elenaor Farjeon
Harmony - Olli Kortekangas
Confirma hoc - Jacobus Gallus
Pueri concinite - Jacobus Gallus
Cantemus - Lajos Bardos
Ave maria - Lajos Huszar
Nem ismertem az oromet - Traditional hungarian folksong
Unnepi kanon - Bardos / Lukin
Al Shlosha D'Varim - Allan E. Naplan
A Clare Benediction - John Rutter
Josu Elberdin - Alami

The Miraculum Children's Choir was formed in 1996 from the 12-15 year old children who attend the Kodaly Zoltan Special Music Elementary and Grammar School, Music School and Conservatory in Kecskemet, Hungary. This talented choir, directed by Laszlo Duranyik, has been awarded numerous first prizes in international choir competitions and festivals across Europe, We particularly like the liner notes included with "III," which show wide-screen photos of this all-girl choir in t-shirts and jeans, and then in their concert garb, white blouses and black skirts. It's hard to pick favorites here, as this choir has a wonderfully fresh, spirited sound on all cuts, but the a cappella tunes, Zoltan Kodaly's dynamic "Lengyel Laslo" and "Egyetem-begyetem," Miklos Kocsar's "Cat and Dog," Palestrina's lovely "Pueri hebraeorum," Olli Kortekangas' "Harmony," Jacobus Gallus' beautiful "Confirma Hoc" and "Pueri concinite," Lajos Huszar's "Ave Maria," the traditional Hungarian folk song "Nem ismertem az oromet" and Bardos and Lukin's "Unnepi kanon" are among the best here. There is some light piano accompaniment. But we have to say, this is an amazing sound from a childrens' choir - definitely among the best we've ever heard!

8722 CD $15.95

Schola Hungarica: Bartok: For Children's & Female Choruses

Hungarian composer Bela Bartok wrote these 27 a cappella pieces for children's and women's choirs in an energetic burst in 1935-36, sandwiched in between outstanding accompanied works such as "String Quartet No. 5" and "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta." These songs are all sung in Hungarian by the delightful Schola Hungarica and are all less than 3 minutes in length. Some favorites, "Spring," "Letter to those at home," "Play Song," "Courting," the joyous "I have a ring," "Breadbaking," "Hussar," "Boys' Teasing Song," "Michaelmas greetings," "Suitor," "Bird Song," "Jeering," "Regret," "Cushion dance" and "God be with you!" Alternately sweet, celebratory, sad, focused on the task at hand, and many other expressions of the thoughts and emotions of youth, this is a remarkable and touching collection by an inspired master Hungarian composer. Complete lyrics and translations in the extensive liner notes.

Hungarian Radio and Television Chorus: Choral Music of Kodaly 1

In the 1930s Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly breathed new life into a form that had been dormant in Europe since the Renaissance, polyphonic choral music. Janos Ferencsik directs the Hungarian Radio and Television Choirs in 6 of Kodaly's best, all sung a cappella in Hungarian: "Hymn of Zrinyl," "Jesus and the Traders," "The Aged," "Norwegian girls" (written in 1940 and said to be in sympathy with Norway, just overrun by Hitler's Reich), "Too Late" and "Ode to Liszt." This is striking, dramatic, impressionistic, historic music, beautifully performed by one of Europe's great mixed choruses.

Budapest Girls' Chorus & others: Choral Music of Kodaly 3

Legendary Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly's 150-odd vocal works created a second golden age in the history of choral music and a flowering of the choral singing movement. These 16 songs, performed by Hungarian Radio and Television Chorus, Conducted by Janos Ferencsik, with Budapest "Kodaly Zoltan" Girls' Choir and Hungarian Army Male Chorus, are filled with national fervor and love of liberty and peace: "To the Hungarians," "National Song," "Soldier's Song," "Battle Song," "Wish for Peace—the Year 1801," "The Hymn of Liberty," "Geneva Psalm CL," "I will go look for Death," "Orphan am I," "Songs from Karad" and "The Peacock"—these are inspirational, dramatic songs, some of them national anthems. "Choral Music of Kodaly 3" beautifully shows the power of one of the most brilliant 20th century composers to create a new renaissance of spirited choral groups and music.

Cantemus Children's Choir: Choral Music of Kodaly 7

Hungary's most famous and innovative composer, Zoltan Kodaly explains his artistic mission thus: "One must write original works, whose point of departure, in their texts and melodies, is the child's soul and the child's voice." One of Kodaly's main interests was the teaching of singing in schools, and conductor Denes Szabo has followed that path, beginning at Primary School No. 4 in Nyiregyhaza in 1969. He directs the school's Cantemus Children's Chorus in 21 of Kodaly's compositions for children's, youth and female choruses, like "See the gypsies," "Evening song," "Seven easy children's choruses," "Hippity hoppity," "Honey, honey," "Gypsy lament," "St. Gregory's Day," "Angels and Shepherds" and "Epiphany." Spirited, award-winning Cantemus, directed by Szabo, is the perfect choice to sing this difficult, beautiful material. "Choral Music of Kodaly 7" is a treat!

Debreen Kodaly Chorus / Peter Erdei: Zoltan Kodaly - Works for the Mixed Choir, Vol. 1

Misere
Este / Evening
Turot Eszik A Cigany / See The Gypsies Munching Cheese
Uj Esztendot Koszonto / A Christmas Carol
Koszonto / A Birthday Greeting
Matrai Kepek / Matra Pictures
Oregek / The Aged
Akik Mindig Elkesnek / Too Late
Jezus Es A Kufarok / Jesus And The Traders
Horatii CArmen II. 10
Szekely Kereves / Transylvanian Lament
Molnar Anna / Annie Miller
Liszt Ferenchez / Ode To Liszt
A Magyarokhoz / Song Of Faith

Kodaly stared composing choral works in his student years but he only became a primarily choral composer after the success of Psalmus Hungaricus, from the mid-1920s. This compilation is the first in the set of the Complete Works for Mixed Choir by Zoltan Kodaly. The CD contains, with the exceptions of a short occassional piece, the a cappella compositions of more than three decades. The composer's corrections in the manuscripts and printed scores could be adopted in this recording courtesy of Mrs. Sarolta Kodaly.

9848 CD $15.95

Honved Ensemble Male Choir: Liszt: Choral Works For Male Voices

The talented Hungarian choral group Honved Ensemble Male Choir" brings us a rare treat, choral works written for male voices by Ferenc Liszt (1811-1886). First of the 7 movements are the dramatic "Les Quatre Elemens," written for the poems by Joseph Autran, and first performed in 1844 with piano accompaniment by Liszt, "Titan," written in Berlin in 1842 and based on the Franz von Schober poem, the politically controversial "Arbeitercho/A Munka Himnusza," and the heroic "Le Forgeron," (the Blacksmith) based on the Lamennais's poem. This is moving, all accompanied, passionately-sung music that stirs and touches us still, across the centuries!

Cantemus Children's Choir / Pro Musica Girl's Choir: Lajos Bardos

Hungarian master composer Lajos Bardos (1899-1987) was an outstanding figure of the prominent generation of students of Kodaly and Bartok who, inspired by their ideas, did much for Hungarian musical culture. As with Kodaly and Bartok, after becoming a master, Bardos taught generations coming after him and was an active choral conductor (for the Cecilia Chorus, the Budapest Chorus and others) for decades. His work as a composer is represented on this disc by a selection of choruses for children's and female voices. Denes Szabo directs the Cantemus Children's Choir and Pro Musica in these 27 lively choral works: "Cantemus!," "On Sunny Roads," "Awake You, Youth," "Blow the Pipe," "Three Choruses for Children," the dramatic "Recruiting Song of the Hussars," "Breeze," "Hey, Put It Right!," the 2-part "The Bride," "To Ferenc Liszt," "In Memory of Bartok," "Summer-Sunday," "Gold-Winged Angel," and the sacred songs "Ave Maris Stella," "Ave Maria" and "The Blessed Virgin Mary." There is piano accompaniment on a few tunes. The high, bright voices of the children go perfectly with this material by a man whose life and work remain a gift to Hungary and to the world.

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