Tibor Sarai

Tibor Sarai was born on 10 May 1919 in Budapest (Hungary). He studied violin at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and composition privately with Pal Kadosa. After his studies he first worked for the composers union, and from 1950 to 1953 as the head of the music department of the Hungarian broadcasting service. At the same time Tibor Sarai was also head of the music department of the Hungarian ministry of education. Since 1953 Tibor Sarai worked as a teacher, first at the Budapest conservatory, then at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music from 1959 until his retirement in 1980. In addition Tibor Sarai was general secretary of the Association of Hungarian Musicians from 1959 to 1978 and member of the International Music Council of the UNESCO from 1972 to 1977 and 1980 to 1985.
Tibor Sarai was awarded the Ferenc Erkel Prize in 1959 and the Kossuth Prize in 1975.
Tibor Sarai died on 11 May 1995 in Budapest (Hungary).

The work catalogue of Tibor Sarai contains 2 symphonies, several other orchestral compositions, chamber music including 3 string quartets, songs, an oratorio and 3 cantatas.

In my possession are two autograph manuscripts by Tibor Sarai:

1) A méh románca

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of the composition "A méh románca" (The romance of the bee) by Tibor Sarai. The composition sets a poem by Janos Arany (1817-1882) into music. The works calls for soprano, flute, cello and harpsichord and was composed in 1985. The work was premiered in 1991 by Maria Ardo (soprano) and the Hungarian Baroque Trio (Gyula Csetenyi, Zsolt Bartha, Ferenc Kerek). But the score was never published and therefore I present it here for information purposes:

2) Invenció három szólamban

This "Invention in 3 parts" is scored for piano or organ. It was composed in 1941. My manuscript was written by Tibor Sarai later, because at the end the date is given as "1941 'karácsonyán' (?)". So Tibor Sarai remembers to have written this composition on Christmas 1941, but he is not sure anymore. The manuscript also has a lengthy and very personal introduction that says:

"„Négy zongoradarab”-ommal Nálad nem volt sikerem, ezt annyira érzem, hogy már tudom is. Azt hiszem leginkább stílusuk áll távol Tőled: nem otthonod a modern zene. Nem szemrehányásként mondom, de azt hiszem, meg se kísérelted eljátszani őket. Ez az érzésem nagyon bántott. Belátom, a hibás én voltam; ezt a hibát szeretném most jóvátenni. Az alábbi kompozíció nem új nyelven beszél. Stílusa Beethoven késői műveinek kontrapunktikájából nőtt ki, de nem stilizált zene. Teljesen őszinte. Úgy hiszem, ez már tetszeni fog Neked.
Szeretettel, Tibor"

Roughly translated it says:

"I didn't succeed with my "Four Piano Pieces" with you, I feel this so much that I already know it. I think it is their style that is most distant from you: you are not at home with modern music. I don't mean this as a reproach, but I don't think you've even tried to play them. That feeling really hurt me. I admit that it was my fault, and I would like to correct it now. The following composition does not speak a new language. Its style grew out of the contrapuntal music of Beethoven's late works, but it is not stylized music. It is completely honest. I think you'll like it. Love, Tibor."

Written at the age of 22 this composition seems to be dedicated to a young love of the composer.