Sárai, Tibor

Sárai, Tibor, Hungarian composer and teacher; b. Budapest, May 10, 1919. He studied composition with Kadosa and violin with Sándor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest (diploma, 1942). In 1948 he became secretary general of the Union of Hungarian Musicians; after serving as head of the music dept. of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture (1949–50), he held that position with the Hungarian Radio (1950–53). From 1953 to 1959 he taught at the Béla Bartók Cons. in Budapest; then was a prof. at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music (1959–80). He was also secretary general of the Assn. of Hungarian Musicians (1959–78); likewise was vice-president (1975–77) and secretary general (1980–82) of the International Music Council of unesco. In 1959 he was awarded the Erkel Prize and in 1975 the Kossuth Prize. In 1988 he was made a Merited Artist by the Hungarian government. In his compositions, he adheres to the national Hungarian tradition, enhanced by a free use of euphonious dissonances.

Works

ORCH .: Serenade for Strings (1946); Tavaszi concerto (Spring Concerto) for Flute, Viola, Cello, and String Orch. (1955); 6 Scenes from the dance play János vitéz (1956–57); 3 syms. (1965–67; 1972–73; 1987); Musica for 45 Strings (1970–71); Epitaph in Memory of Ferenc Szabó (1974); Notturno (1977–78); Autumn Concerto for Violin, Cello, Horn, Trumpet, and Orch. (1984).CHAMBER : 3 string quartets (1958; 1971; 1980–82); Lassu es friss for Violin and Piano (1958); Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1961–62); Studio for Flute and Piano (1964); Sonata for Solo Violin (1990); piano pieces. VOCAL : Variations on a Theme of Peace, oratorio for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1961–64); De profanais, cantata for Tenor and Wind Quintet (1968); Diagnosis ’69 for Tenor and Orch. (1969); Future Questioning for Alto, Baritone, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1971); Christ or Barabbas for Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Chorus, and Orch. (1976–77); Scena for Soprano and Bassoon (1980); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire