Hungary 16.7.2007
Zoltán Kodály was born on 16 December 1882 in Kecskemét. He died on 6 March 1967 in Budapest. 2017 is the 50th anniversary of his death.
The Hungarian composer, music teacher and ethnomusicologist Zoltán Kodály learned early to play the violin and studied composition at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest from 1900 onwards. From 1907 he taught music theory and composition there. Kodály dealt with fundamental questions of music education and has authored numerous books. Together with his friend Béla Bartók he collected more than 3500 Hungarian folk songs, which he examined scientifically. Since 1963 Zoltán Kodály was President of the International Folk Music Council (IFMC) and 1961-1967 editor of the journal “Studia musicologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae”.
The video shows the Rajkó Orchestra performing at the Synagogue in Budapest. The composition “Dances of Galánta” is influenced by the music of Sinti and Roma.