William Penn Life, 2019 (54. évfolyam, 2-5. szám)
2019-02-01 / 2. szám
Tibor's Take with Tibor Check, Jr. Franz Liszt & his legacy AS A YOUNGSTER, I played the alto saxophone in the school band. My attempt at mastering the instrument was less than a successful one. During that same time, I also tried my hands at playing the cimbalom and oftentimes envisioned myself making beautiful music like Alex Udvary or Oskar Okros. As time progressed, I learned that it took a large amount of diligence to make proper music. I also realized that to become a true master of any given instrument, a god-given talent is necessary, and, apparently, God decided to give me other talents. Thankfully, the muses spoke to my brother, András, who continues to play the cimbalom to this day. Needless to say, I drifted away from performing music to other areas (such as writing) having absorbed nothing more than an appreciation for the musical arts and the composers and performers that make it all possible. As I have grown older, my appreciation of various types of Hungarian music has diversified. As a kid, I preferred the seminal, easy-listening stylings of regional Hungarian performers who had been a fixture at many social gatherings for decades, performers like Mikisits, Borisz or Rabb. With age, my interests expanded further: from current Hungarian folk music trends (such as the Tánc Ház movement) to the classical compositions of Liszt and Brahms, as well as other Hungarian and Hungarianinspired composers, such as Enescu, Dinicu, Kodály, Bartók, Nováéek, Dvorak and Wagner. I also like, on occasion, to listen to some light opera and musicals. Each new musical discovery has added more vibrant color to my ever-expanding palate of listening experiences. The internet offers an almost limitless smorgasbord of recordings for listening either free of charge or for a nominal service fee. I can listen from my car, cellphone, tablet or computer when and where I want. As with most things I research, I take interest in the history behind the subject matter, as I find it essential to understanding the ideas completely. This broad understanding of the history and circumstances of the time that music was composed or recorded imbues the art with additional meaning. For example, Béla Bartók, the noteworthy composer and researcher of Hungarian peasant songs, was shunned by the Communists following his death in 1945.1 was not really sure, but I assumed the Stalinists of Hungary were so relentless in their refusal to recognize Bartók and his works due to his immigration to America. It was not until my brother András introduced me to a book entitled, Music Divided: Bartók's Legacy in Cold War Culture by Danielle Fosler- Lussier, did I learn the details to the intentional discrediting of Bartók by the Hungarian Communists. Anyway, Bartók's legacy is an illustration of the importance of how historical context influences the meaning and appreciation for music. Another illustration of this is the great legacy of Franz Liszt's musical career, which has itself an outsized historical impact on the musicians and societies that came after him. Clearly, Liszt was an astounding piano virtuoso. But, it is his promotion and friendships that were Photo of Franz Liszt © Can Stock Photo Inc./GeorgiosArt 6 0 February 2019 0 WILLIAM PENN LIFE
