William Penn Life, 1990 (25. évfolyam, 2-10. szám)
1990-07-01 / 7. szám
Page 2, William Penn Life, July 199Ó William Penn LIFE Official Publication of the William Penn Association Published Monthly Office of Publication: 709 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Phone: 412/231-2979 Third Class U.S. Postage Paid Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 2724 E. E. Vargo Editor-in-chief Frances A. Furedy Associate Editor John E. Lovász Managing Editor Gateway Press, Inc. Print Production NATIONAL OFFICERS E. E. Vargo National President Frances A. Furedy National Secretary-Treasurer Zoltán B. Emri National Vice President Emil Herman General Counsel Dr. Julius Kesseru Medical Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joseph P. Arvay Chairman Stephen J. Ivancso Vice Chairman Roger G. Nagy Vice Chairman Ronald S. Balia William J. Bero Elmer A. Furedy Michael J. Hrabar John S. Molnár Stephen J. Szatmári Michael F. Tomcsak Elmer W. Toth Frank J. Wukovits, Jr. Frank J. Radvany Secretary of the Board Emeritus AUDITING COMMITTEE Louis A. Fodor Chairman Michael R. Kara Vice Chairman William J. Kovach Secretary Dale A. Cole Stephen P. Danko Charles Fabian ADVISORY BOARD Elmer Charles President Emeritus Frank Bero Stephen Danko Michael Hegedűs Frank J. Wukovits, Sr. Postmaster: If undelivered, please send form 3579 to: William Penn Association 709 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15233 Erkel: composer of the Our article last month about Ferenc Kölcsey, the writer of the Himnusz, prompted some of you to ask us for more information about the anthem’s composer. This article contains information from a three-part series on Kölcsey and Erkel which originally appeared last fall on our Hungarian Page. This article was compiled and translated by MARIA BISTEY. Ferenc Erkel (1810-1893) was born on Nov. 7 at Gyula in Békés County. The county was divided into two sections by the Körös River, one side being Hungarian, the other German. Erkel’s father was the choir director of the German church, and little Ferenc himself attended German school. With four generations of musicians in the Erkel family, it was natural for Ferenc to be interested in music. He learned diligently and fast, and at age 10 was already able to substitute for his father. At age 11 he performed his first piano recital at Gyula. He went on to attend schools at Nagyvárad and, later, Pazsony. After high school he went to Kolozsvár to teach piano. His fame as a virtuoso quickly spread throughout Kolozsvár, and he came to be loved and respected by the musicians there. Erkel became friends with the scholar Samuel Brassai, who was 10 years older than Erkel and a lover a Hungarian folk songs. Brassai and Kolozsvár sparked Erkel’s interest in Hungarian music. In 1830, Erkel moved up to the Capital. He took the conductor’s position at the newly built National Theater in 1837 at less pay than his previous post. Gábor Bartai, the president of the 'Himnusz* Hungarian National Theater, conducted a competition to have Kölcsey’s "Himnusz” put to music and make it the national anthem of Hungary. At that time Hungary was the only nation in Europe without its own national anthem. Bartai was convinced that only one man was capable of composing such music: Hungary’s foremost operatic composer, the first musical director of the Hungarian National Theater, Ferenc Erkel. Although the Himnusz was a great success when introduced in 1844, it did not gain wide acceptance for some time. It was 15 years later when it finally was recognized as the national prayer in 1859. Two years later, Erkel composed his best known and best loved opera, the Bánk bán. Among his many works are László Hunyadi and Mária Bátori. Speaker suffers fatal attack after addressing musicians TRENT, PA — Frank Wilson, an active member of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of A- merica from Beaver Falls, Pa., died June 12 at a local hospital after suffering a heart attack at Penn’s Scenic View. Mr. Wilson suffered the attack only moments after delivering a speech to the members of the Cantemus Children’s Choir and Piccoli Archi Orchestra, who were spending the night at Scenic View as the Association’s guests. Doctors traveling with the groups administered CPR until paramedics arrived. National President E. E. Vargo, Chairman of the Board Joseph P. Arvay and National Directors Roger G. Nagy and Elmer W. Toth represented the Association at services at the funeral home. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family. May he rest in peace. Reporting of members’ Social Security numbers In recent months our premium notices have included a message asking members to furnish us with their Social Security number. Under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, our Association must have on file the Social Security number of every member age 5 and older. If we do not have your number, you will soon be receiving a letter from our Home Office asking you to send us your Social Security number. We ask that if you receive such a letter from us, please comply as soon as possible. Your prompt response will be appreciated. Frances A. Furedy National Secretary-Treasurer CONSTITUTION WEEK GET INVOLVED! NOTICE Effective July 1,1990 the interest rate on Flexible Premium and Single Premium Deferred Annuity Contracts will be 8.75% Members of the Cantemus choir perform for an appreciative audience in Pittsburgh. The choir and the Piccoli Archi Orchestra won acclaim from audiences in every city they visited. (Photo by Louis A. Fodor) Dr. István Serto (left), president of the Hungarian Heart Foundation, presents pieces of the barbed wire which used to line the Hungarian border to National President E. E. Vargo and Andres Csornán, vice president of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. (Photo by Louis A. Fodor) Letter to the editor Wilson family expresses thanks The family of Frank (Ven) Wilson wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for your support and that of the William Penn Association during this difficult period. Your kindness and consideration eases the pain of our sudden loss, and will be remembered always. For more than 30 years, Frank worked tirelessly for the cause of justice for his beloved Hungary. Indeed, even as his final moments were drawing to a close, he fervently recited "Igazságot Magyarországnak” to the group of enraptured Hungarian children that gathered around him. Thus it was that moment before God called him home, Frank realized yet another dream come true. May the work of the William Penn Association meet with continued success, so that Frank’s efforts and countless personal sacrifices will not have been in vain. With heartfelt thanks, Mrs. Helen V. Wilson and Family Beaver Falls, PA
