In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer György Orbán.
György Orbán
b. 1947
The Hungarian-Romanian composer György Orbán is best known for his vocal music employing avant-garde and neoclassic techniques. Born in 1947 in Marosvásárhely, he attended the Music Academy in Kolosvár where he studied composition under Sigismund Toduţă and Max Eisikovits, and music theory under János Jagamas; from 1973 until 1979 he taught music theory and counterpoint there. After moving to Hungary, he was a music editor with Editio Musica Budapest, and since 1982 has been a professor of music theory and composition at the Music Academy in Budapest. An important vocal composer, Orbán’s works feature elements of Hungarian tradition inspired by folk music mingled with grotesque, humorous, and at times satirical elements. His music is characterized by its natural and beautiful sound that maintains and replicates the style of classical music. In addition to compositions for the theatre, oratorios, and instrumental and vocal works, he has written incidental music for film and stage.
Selected Choral Pieces:
- Ave Maria in D (Hinshaw Music HMC1395)
- Orpheus With His Lute (Hinshaw Music HMC 1776)
- Daemon irrepit callidus (Hinshaw Music HMC 1537)