SKU: HL.50610141

Zoltan Kodaly's op. 1, Enekszo (Singing), this series of songs written on Hungarian folk poetry, first appeared in 1921 at Rozsavolgyi Publishing House. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first edition, a facsimile edition of the work and a new edition with Hungarian and English texts has been published, with great help of Mrs. Kodaly nee Sarolta Peczely. The series of songs written between 1907 and 1909 simultaneously reflects the composer's first encounter with Hungarian folk songs and Debussy's song poetry. Kodaly, who later composed numerous arrangements of folk songs for both solo voice and choir, uses only the texts of folk lyrics in these songs, the melodic world, although reminiscent of Hungarian folk songs in several ways, stems from his own melodic invention. And in piano accompaniments, you can feel the experimental spirit and atmosphere-creating power of the young composer at the same time.

SKU: BR.EB-8834

ISBN 9790004183984. 9 x 12 inches. German.

In Engelslicht und Dornenschatten, the author invites us to listen to well-known Christmas carols in a new spirit, beyond all hoary cliches. The Lieder fur eine stille Weihnachtszeit and especially the different instrumental accompaniments grew out of improvisation and the desire to encourage the formative creativity of the musicians. The arrangements correspond to the recordings on the eponymous CD known through radio broadcasts. I sought new approaches to the carols. My fingers played accompaniments as if on their own, my voice made repeats where there were none, and did away with some of the carols original form. It was as if something within me was searching for a counter-magic to thwart the force of habit and the automatism with which Christmas carols are often sung and heard. (Christine Maria Rembeck).