Review

Gyorgy Kurtág
Six Pieces for Trombone and Piano:

Budapest, , Hungary
Publisher: Editio Musica Budapest
Date of Publication: 1999

Performing score

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Kurtág (b.1926) studied piano and composition at the Budapest Academy of Music and in Paris with Messiaen and Milhaud. Today he is recognized as one of the most highly esteemed composers of our time, whose music is performed worldwide by such ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic. He is not as well known outside of Europe, writing little and not interested in self-promotion. His musical language is unique and eclectic, reflecting influences including Machaut, J.S. Bach, Bartok, Berg, Beethoven, Messiaen and Webern. Further influences include French Gothic architecture, the plays of Samuel Beckett, the novels of Dostoevsky and the writings of Goethe, Blok, Sappho, Hölderlin, and Kafka. A highly eclectic and cultured man, he speaks Romanian, Hungarian, German, French, Russian, Ancient Greek and English. Heir to Webern’s expressionism, Kurtag favors concentrated miniatures exploring a wide range of human emotions. He is the recipient of numerous awards and commissions, including the Grawemeyer Award in 2006. His A Kis Csava (The Little Predicament) for piccolo, guitar and trombone op.15b has been recorded by Jörgen van Rijen, Channel Classics Catalog Number: CCSSA22305. One can also hear some of his music on the internet video website YouTube.

The Six Pieces are actually seven separate movements including two short tonal fanfares, one for trombone solo, the other for trombone and piano, two mysterious and eerie dirges, an Homage to Paganini appropriately marked prestissimo, and two movements titled Beating. The latter are an unmetered hocket-like interchange between trombone and piano. This is wonderful music requiring mature performers, but not beyond excellent college level musicians.

-Karl Hinterbichler     
University of New Mexico