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The most important class, however, for me and for hundreds of other Hungarian musicians, was the chamber-music class. From about the age of fourteen, and until graduation from the Academy, all instrumentalists except the heavy-brass players and percussionists had to participate in this course. Presiding over it for many years was the composer Leó Weiner, who thus exercised an enormous influence on three generations of Hungarian musicians.
Sir Georg Solti

Liszt Academy joins the Eurobalcon online initiative

3 April 2020

Following the joint initiative of the Lyon and Paris National Conservatories of Music and Dance, the renowned prelude of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Te Deum will be performed first on April 3 and at 7 p.m. every consecutive Friday. The Liszt Academy has warmly welcomed the invitation: every week a different professor will be performing the piece at a balcony concert.

The famous prelude to the Baroque composer's piece has gained worldwide popularity, for example, as the opening music of the Eurovision contest, broadcast by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). According to the information provided by the two French music universities, their aim is to spread a message of hope, solidarity and community values in these challenging times. All music professors and students, professional and amateur musicians are invited to stand on their balconies or at their windows at 7 p.m. every Friday and play the prelude, which is a few minutes long. The composition can also be played from a recording or performed as a virtual or actual ensemble.

Dr. Andrea Vigh, president of the Liszt Academy, spoke about solidarity and a manifestation of the clinging together of souls after the announcement of the initiative: “at a time when we are forced to neglect our personal relationships, modern technology allows us to play music together and this has healing powers. Musicians continue to provide support, as their task is to nurture the mental health of the members of society in times of crisis both at home and around the world.” She added that artists educated at the Liszt Academy are present all over the globe and their creative presence connects the world in a network. “Music works without language, and even though a talented musician seems to be a tiny point, they can still become a titan, because music – as one of our most ancient means of expression - also shows how far we have come with respect to humanity, love, spiritual richness and these days even technology.”

On the first few occasions, the Woodwind and Brass Department, and in particular brass players will be playing the piece, as it is mainly known when performed on such instruments. Tuba artist Roland Szentpáli, professor of the tuba main subject at the Liszt Academy, will be the first to perform and he has prepared a special rendition. He revealed that he has partly rescored the piece as he is making a recording in which he plays all four parts on a period instrument, the serpent. He will then combine these with the help of a computer programme.

 


Photo caption: Roland Szentpáli with a serpent. Photo: Balázs Szecsődi

 

 

The scores of the composition for various instruments and orchestrations has been made available free of charge by the Centre for French Baroque Music in Versailles on its website, thus anyone who can play music is free to take part in this joint musical venture.