Hungarian composer and musician Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) is best known for his pedagogical system, the Kodaly Method, which has been influential in the development of music education around the world. Author Anna Dalos considers, for the first time in publication, Kodaly's career beyond the classroom and provides a comprehensive assessment of his works as a composer. A noted collector of Hungarian folk music, Kodaly adapted the traditional heritage musics in his own compositions, greatly influencing the work of his contemporary, Bela Bartok. Highlighting Kodaly'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 Kodaly's career also explores decisive, extramusical impulses, such as his bitter experiences of World War I, Kodaly's reception of classical antiquity, and his interpretation of the male and female roles in his music. Written by the leading Kodaly expert, this impressive work of historical and musical insight provides a timely and much-needed English-language treatment of the twentieth-century composer.

About the Author
Anna Dalos is a musicologist and Head of the Archives for 20th- and 21st-Century Hungarian Music at the Institute for Musicology of the Research Centre for the Humanities, Budapest. She is the author of two monographs on Zoltan Kodaly and is a leading scholar on his work.


Reviews

"This book is a major contribution to the growing English-language literature on Hungarian music-history . . . Dalos, with her excellent command of English and expansive knowledge of Kodaly's role in Hungarian music-history, is an ideal scholar to re-introduce Kodaly to the English-speaking world as one of the great classical composers and minds of the twentieth century."

* Hungarian Cultural Studies *
"The great merit of Dalos's extremely informative and readable book is to bring Kodaly out of his shadowy existence as 'Bartok's little-known, almost mysterious companion'... Since the book not only represents an enormous scholarly gain but is also eminently suitable for pedagogical purposes, it is certain to be widely received." * Studia Musicologica *
"This book will be of particular interest to musicologists and those interested in aspects of Kodaly's life that are not yet as celebrated internationally, but which remained a major impetus for his commitment to a better music education in Hungary." * Journal of the History of Music Education *



Book Information
ISBN 9780520300040
Author Anna Dalos
Format Hardback
Page Count 298
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 544g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 25mm