Music/Folklore paper by Gábos, Judit
Eszterházy Károly University, Eger

Bartók and Kodály's Transylvania, as Reflected in their Piano Works

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
Bartók and Kodály’s oeuvre and their wide production of works using folk music had not only made transriptions of Folk music grow in scope and gain international exposure, but also became the most powerful tool in the formation of 20th century Hungarian national identity.
19th century music reform, identified as Hungarian: the verbunkos style, the csardas dance-style, later called „fabricated” by Kodály; 20th century: back to folk music roots, the authentic Hungarian and more widely: Carpathian basin peasant music tradition. Bartók and Kodály’s folklorism: the reinforcement of national feelings.
Transylvania: the Eastern part of Hungary, Western part of Romania, the common land of two nations: the fairy land, where they could still find the ancient folk song types and scales. As collectors, they divided their work as follows: Kodály researched Hungarian folk music in Hungary and neighbouring countries (Romania, Slovakia), seeking the origin of Hungarians and their music; while Bartók was a pioneer collector of not only Hungarian, but other nation’s folk music as well. Bartók never spoke about his „nation’s” folk music, but always about his „homeland’s peasant music. His ideal was to establish a larger-scale, Carpathian-basin musical dialect.



Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
A concert pianist, Dr. Judit Gábos is head of the music department of Eszterházy University of Eger. In 2003 received DMA in piano performance from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and in 2012 obtained a habilitation also in piano performance from the Liszt Academy. Between 2000-2006 – as the artist of the Hungarian Radio – played numerous live solo and chamber music recitals; has been performing regularly at the Liszt Museum in Budapest, played at the Spring Festival of Budapest, Pecs and Eger. In Europe gave solo and chamber music concerts in Belgium, Finland, Serbia, Spain. In Romania has been frequently soloist of the State Philharmonics of Targu-Mures. In the United States played Bartók (Concerto no.3 for piano and orchestra, the Sonata for two pianos and percussions) and also all-Bartók recitals in New York (2013, 2015), Canada (Ottawa, Toronto). In 2011, as a Fulbright grantee, played concerts and recitals in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco), Cleveland (Ohio), Atlanta (Georgia), in South and North Carolina, honouring the Liszt bicentenary. Outside Europe and the North American continent, toured Indonesia, Brazil, India.