Erzsébet Szőnyi facts for kids
Erzsébet Szőnyi (born April 25, 1924 – died December 28, 2019) was a famous Hungarian composer and music teacher. She also used the name Erzsébet Szilágyi. Szőnyi wrote many different kinds of music. These included big pieces for orchestras, music for small groups of instruments, songs, and special musical stories called oratorios. She also created eight operas, which are plays set to music.
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About Erzsébet Szőnyi
Erzsébet Szőnyi was born in Budapest on April 25, 1924. She loved music from a young age. She studied how to compose music and play the piano at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Her teacher there was János Viski. She also earned a special diploma to teach music in high schools.
Later, Erzsébet traveled to Paris, France. There, she took classes from famous composers like Tony Aubin and Olivier Messiaen at the Conservatoire de Paris. She even won an award for her compositions. She also worked privately with another well-known teacher, Nadia Boulanger, in 1947 and 1948.
One of her most important teachers was Zoltán Kodály. She worked very closely with him. After her studies, Szőnyi taught at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. She taught classes about music education and led music groups called choirs.
From 1964, Szőnyi became a leader in the International Society for Music Education (ISME). This group helps people learn about music all over the world. She was the vice-president of ISME from 1970 to 1974. Erzsébet Szőnyi passed away in Budapest on December 28, 2019.
Awards and Honors
Erzsébet Szőnyi received many important awards for her musical work. These awards recognized her talent and contributions to music.
- 1947: Liszt-Preis
- 1959: Erkel Ferenc-díj
- 1995 and 2004: Bartók-Pásztory prize (Bartók Béla-Pásztory Ditta-díj)
- 2001: Kodály-Preis 2001
- 2003: Kossuth Prize
She also received an honorary doctorate from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things. Since 1992, she was a member of the Széchenyi Academy of Arts. This is a group that honors important artists and writers.
Erzsébet Szőnyi's Music
Erzsébet Szőnyi wrote many different types of music. Here are some of her main works:
Piano Music
- Little Chamber Music, for two pianos (1950)
- La Princesse récalcitrante, a suite for piano (1956)
- Toccatina, for piano (1965)
Organ Music
- 6 pieces (1957)
- Concerto for organ (1958)
- Introduction, passacaille and fugue (1964)
- 5 Preludes (1965)
Chamber Music
Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments, often played in a smaller room.
- Serenade and danse, for violin and piano (1954)
- Sonatine, for violin and piano (1965)
- Duo, for violin and alto (1955)
Orchestral Music
Orchestral music is written for a large group of musicians playing many different instruments together.
- Parlando and giusto (1947)
- Divertimento (1951)
- Intermezzo (1955)
- Musica festiva, a suite (1965)
Vocal Music
This includes music written for singers.
- Songs, choral works (for choirs), and oratorios (large musical stories for voices and orchestra).
Operas
Operas are plays where the story is told mostly through singing, with costumes, sets, and an orchestra.
- Dalma (1952)
- A makrancos királylány (1955)
- Firenzei tragédie (1957)
- Az aranyszárnyú méhecske (1974)
- A Gay Lament (1979)
- The Truth-telling Shepherd (1979)
- Break of Transmission (1980)
- Elfrida (1985)
