Decsényi, János

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Decsényi, János

Decsényi, János , Hungarian composer; b. Budapest, March 24, 1927. He studied in Budapest with Sugar at the Cons. (1948–52) and with Szervanszky at the Academy of Music (1952–56). From 1951 he was active with the Hungarian Radio, becoming head of its dept. of serious music and director of its electronic music studio. In 1986 he was made a Merited Artist by the Hungarian government. He was awarded the Bartok Pasztory Prize in 1999.

Works

DRAMATIC Keptelen tortenet (An Absurd Story), ballet (1962); Az on (The Nose), pantomime (1979). ORCH.:Divertimento for Harpsichord and Chamber Orch. (1959); Csontvdry-kepek (Csontvary Pictures; 1967); Melodiae hominis for Chamber Orch. (1969); Gondolatok—nappal, ejszaka (Thoughts—by Day, by Night; 1971); Kommentdrok Marcus AureHushoz (Commentaries on Marcus Aurelius) for 16 Solo Strings (1973); Double for Chamber Orch. (1974); Variations for Piano and Orch. (1976); Concerto boemo (1976); Concerto grosso for Chamber Orch. (1978); A tiicsokszot ki erti meg? (Who Under-stands the Speech of Crickets?) for Chamber Orch. and Tape (1983); Cello Concerto (1984); A harmadik (The 3rd One) for 15 Solo Strings (1985); 2 syms. (1986, 1993). CHAMBER : String Trio (1955); Sonatina pastorale for Flute and Piano (1956); String Quartet (1978); Cello Sonata (1991). VOCAL:Szerelem (Love) for Soprano and Orch. (1957); A gondolat jdtekai (The Plays of Thought), cantata for Soprano and Chamber Orch. (1972); Sirfelirat Aquincumbol (Epitaph from Aquincum) for Soprano, Electric Organ, and 16 Solo Strings (1979); Weores Sdndor tizenkettedik szimfonidja (The 12th Symphony of Sandor Weores) for Soprano and Percussion (1980); Old Hungarian Texts, oratorio for Soprano, Bass, and Chamber Ensemble (1991); Keepsake Album, oratorio for Soprano, Bass, Chamber Chorus, Chamber Ensemble, Electronics, and Projected Images (1998). ELEC TRONIC:Kb’vek (Stones; 1987); Prospero szigete (Prospero’s Island; 1989); Birds of the Cathedral (1991); Book of Verses (2000).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire