Hajdu, Mihály

Hajdu, Mihály, Hungarian composer and teacher; b. Orosháza, Jan. 30, 1909. He settled in Budapest and studied composition with Kodály and piano with Thomán and Székely at the Academy of Music (1929–33). After teaching in a private music school (1933—40), he taught at the Upper Music School (1941–9) and the Béela Bartók Music School (1949–60); subsequently he was prof. of theory at the Academy of Music (1960–77). In 1957 he received the Erkel Prize.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Rádár Kata (1957). orch.: 2 suites (1934, 1958); Serenade (1941); A munka díesérete (In Praise of Work), symphonic poem (1958); Piano Concertino (1962); Capriccio all’ongarese for Clarinet and Orch. (1969); 8 Etudes for Youth String Orch. (1970); Herendi porcelánok (Herend Porcelain), suite (1976); Divertimento for Chamber Orch. (1978). CHAMBER: 2 string quartets (1936, 1970); Clarinet Duets (1951); Magyar pásztordalok (Hungarian Shepherd Songs) for Flute and Piano (1953); 2 violin sonatas (1953, 1977); Variations and Rondo for Cello and Piano (1955); 3 Clarinet Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1956); Piano Trio (1957); Wind Trio (1958); Cello Sonatina (1969); 30 Little Pieces for Cello and Piano (1973; also for 2 Cellos); 2 Concert Études for Harp (1978); 4 Movements for Wind Quintet (1979). piano: 3 Scherzos (1931); Elegy (1932); Sonata (1940); Sonatina (1952); 5 Piano Pieces (1955); 3 Pieces for 2 Pianos (1971); 6 Bagatelles (1987). VOCAL: Choruses; song cycles; solo songs; folk song arrangements.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire