Zoltan Kodaly’s World of Music (Volume 27) (California Studies in 20th-Century Music)

Hungarian composer and musician Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967) is best known for his pedagogical system, the Kodály Method, which has been influential in the development of music education around the world. Author Anna Dalos considers, for the first time in publication, Kodály’s career beyond the classroom and provides a comprehensive assessment of his works as a composer. A noted collector of Hungarian folk music, Kodály adapted the traditional heritage musics in his own compositions, greatly influencing the work of his contemporary, Béla Bartók. Highlighting Kodály’s major music experiences, Dalos shows how his musical works were also inspired by Brahms, Wagner, Debussy, Palestrina, and Bach. Set against the backdrop of various oppressive regimes of twentieth-century Europe, this study of Kodály’s career also explores decisive, extramusical impulses, such as his bitter experiences of World War I, Kodály’s reception of classical antiquity, and his interpretation of the male and female roles in his music. Written by the leading Kodály expert, this impressive work of historical and musical insight provides a timely and much-needed English-language treatment of the twentieth-century composer. Hungarian composer and musician Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967) is best known for his pedagogical system, the Kodály Method, which has been influential in the development of music education around the world. Author Anna Dalos considers, for the first time in publication, Kodály’s career beyond the classroom and provides a comprehensive assessment of his works as a composer. A noted collector of Hungarian folk music, Kodály adapted the traditional heritage musics in his own compositions, greatly influencing the work of his contemporary, Béla Bartók. Highlighting Kodály’s major music experiences, Dalos shows how his musical works were also inspired by Brahms, Wagner, Debussy, Palestrina, and Bach. Set against the backdrop of various oppressive regimes of twentieth-century Europe, this study of Kodály’s career also explores decisive, extramusical impulses, such as his bitter experiences of World War I, Kodály’s reception of classical antiquity, and his interpretation of the male and female roles in his music. Written by the leading Kodály expert, this impressive work of historical and musical insight provides a timely and much-needed English-language treatment of the twentieth-century composer. "Hungarian composer and musician Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) is best known for his pedagogical system, the Kodály method, which has been influential in the development of music education around the world. For the first time, author Anna Dalos considers Kodály's career beyond the classroom and provides a comprehensive assessment of his works as a composer. In addition to the inspiration of Hungarian folk music, which is commonly ascribed to Kodály's composition, this volume presents his most important musical experiences, including the impact of Brahms, Wagner, Debussy, Palestrina, and Bach. Dalos highlights other decisive, extramusical impulses, such as World War I's bitter experience, Kodály's reception of classical antiquity, and even Kodály's interpretation of the male and female roles in his music. Dalos's impressive knowledge of the twentieth-century composer provides a timely and much-needed English-language treatment of Kodály"-- Provided by publisher Introduction -- Zoltán Kodály's path -- Kodály, the Brahmin : the beginning of the composer's carrier -- A shift of paradigm : the reinterpretation of the folk-song concept -- Finding the voice of his "deepest inner self" : the case of String Quarter no. 1 -- Commentaries on Debussy : Kodály's turn toward Western modernity -- Nausicaa, Sappho and other women in love : women and modernism in Kodály's songs -- "From these times of war" : the case of String Quartet no. 2 -- Reflections of a non-political man : Kodály after the Trianon treaty (1920) -- An encounter with a young man : the Peacock Variations -- Palestrina in Budapest : Kodály's views on church music -- Why Jeppesen? : Kodály's readings on counterpoint -- Hungarian counterpoint : contrapuntal tecnique in Kodály's works -- The art of fugue : about Kodály's concerto -- A symphonic self-portrait : the last years -- Epilogue -- Chronology of Zoltán Kodály's path