Szervánszky, Endre

Szervánszky, Endre, Hungarian composer and teacher; b. Kistétény, Dec. 27, 1911; d. Budapest, June 25, 1977. He received training in clarinet as a child, and then was a student of F. Förster (clarinet; 1922-27) and Siklós (composition; 1931-36) at the Budapest Academy of Music. After teaching at the National Cons, in Budapest (1942-48), he taught at the Academy of Music (from 1948). In 1951 and 1955 he received the Kossuth Prize, in 1953 and 1954 he was awarded the Erkel Prize, and in 1972 he was made a Merited Artist by the Hungarian government. His works followed in the path marked out by Kodály and Bartók.

Works

dramatic: Napkeleti mese (Oriental Tale), dance play (1948-49); incidental music; film scores. ORCH.: Divertimento I for Strings (1939), 77 for Small Orch. (1942), and 777 for Strings (1942-43); 2 suites (1944-45; 1948); Sym. (1946-48); Serenade for Strings (1947-48); Rhapsody (1950); Serenade for Clarinet and Orch. (1950-51); Flute Concerto (1953); Variations (1964); Clarinet Concerto (1965). CHAMBER: 2 string quartets (1936-37; 1956-57); 20 Little Duets for 2 Violins (1942); Violin Sonata (1945); 25 Duos for 2 Violins (1946); Clarinet Quintet (1948); Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1950); Trio for Flute, Violin, and Viola (1951); Flute Sonatina (1951); 2 wind quintets (1953, 1957); 5 Concert Études for Flute (1956); Suite for 2 Flutes (1956); 2 Duos for 2 Flutes (1972). Piano: Sonatina (1940); Sonatina for Piano Duet (1950). VOCAL: Requiem for Chorus and Orch. (1963); cantatas; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire