VA - Csaba Szabó: Chamber Music for Strings and Winds (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

The fate of Csaba Szabó (1936-2003), composer, researcher, conductor, and teacher, is a typically twentieth-century Hungarian fate.

He was born in Ákosfalva in Maros-Torda county (Romania), grew up in Kecskemét (Hungary) during the years of the return of Northern Transylvania to Hungary (1941–44). Later, he graduated at a high school in Marosvásárhely, the capital of Szeklerland (Transylvania), and returned to the city, after his years at the Cluj Academy of Music (1953–59) – taking on the many challenges of the Transylvanian-Hungarian music life. The year 1988 brings a major turning point in his life: he emigrates to Hungary, and from then on, he is teaching at the Dániel Berzsenyi Teacher Training College in Szombathely, until his death in 2003.

The chamber music, from a creative point of view, is the link between the composer’s years in Transylvania (Romania) and his years in Szombathely (Hungary), but at the same time, the change of tone is also perceptible in these works, as the messages become more personal and more universal.

The album offers a unique perspective of the multifaceted oeuvre of the composer: includes several chamber music compositions, in various instrumental settings – with one exception, from the workshop of the young, 20-25-years-old composer, who was still studying composition – or just starting out in his career; and a composition from his last years, written more than half a century later, for a very special duo of performers.

A fascinating contrast between two periods: the late simplicity written for a child’s voice and appealing to the child’s soul – in the company of the classical instrumental forms of his youth.

József Balog, Piano
Sándor Berki, Horn
Bence Bogányi, Bassoon
Virginie Robilliard, Violin
Péter Szabó, Cello
Ádám Takács, Child Soprano
CultureTone Ensemble
Szabó Ensemble

Tracklist:
01. Szabó- Serenade for Winds, I. Moderato energico
02. Szabó- Serenade for Winds, II. Lento
03. Szabó- Serenade for Winds, III. Allegro vivace
04. Szabó- Sonatina for Horn, I. Allegretto, poco vivace 
05. Szabó- Sonatina for Horn, II. Presto
06. Szabó- Concert Piece for Bassoon and Piano, Molto agitato
07. Szabó- Three Spring Songs to Poems by Lajos Aprily, I. Ti-ti-ti!
08. Szabó- Three Spring Songs to Poems by Lajos Aprily, II. For Buds and Birds
09. Szabó- Three Spring Songs to Poems by Lajos Aprily, III. April Mood
10. Szabó- Opus Parvuum Musicale - Rondo Concertante for Violin and Piano
11. Szabó- Youth String Quartet, I. Grave - Andante tranquillo - Grave
12. Szabó- Youth String Quartet, II. Allegro scherzando
13. Szabó- Youth String Quartet, III. Largo - Presto


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