Pal Gyöngy

Pal Gyöngy was born on 19 October 1902 in Vienna (Austria-Hungary), the son of the stockbroker Lajos Gyöngy and Kornélia Bauer. He began to play the piano at the age of six and continued his musical education privately in Vienna. In 1919 the family moved to Budapest, where Gyöngy completed his schooling and continued his musical studies. By 1921 he had developed into a sufficiently accomplished pianist to perform at the Vigadó, one of Budapest's most important concert halls.
After graduating from a commercial academy, Gyöngy went to Germany to study electrical engineering. During this period he also became interested in jazz and improvisation. He abandoned his engineering studies after three semesters and returned to Hungary, where he entered the motorcycle business. During the later 1920s he represented several foreign companies and was involved with the Hungarian distribution of Sunbeam motorcycles, Castrol motor oil and other motor products. Gyöngy was also an enthusiastic sportsman. Contrary to some later accounts, his documented competitive success was in motorboat racing: with a 350 cc motorboat he won a Budapest championship.
Around 1930 Gyöngy increasingly concentrated on a professional career in music. In addition to his artistic work, however, he remained active in various commercial and organizational fields. On 16 May 1935 he married Klára Harsányi; the marriage ended in divorce in 1946.
In 1937 Gyöngy moved to Paris, where he became involved in the French entertainment and theatre world. He lived there for approximately two years and was baptized in Paris in 1938 before returning to Hungary shortly before the Second World War.
A previously little documented but important episode in Gyöngy's life occurred in 1944. He was sent as a forced labourer to Bor in German-occupied Serbia and is documented in the Westfalen camp of the Bor labour-service system. The precise circumstances of his return from Bor have not yet been established. By November 1944, however, he was back in Hungary and was working in the recently liberated city of Szeged as one of the heads of the Hungarian film distribution organization Magyar Filmkölcsönző.
From 1945 until February 1947 Gyöngy served as deputy general director of the Magyar Filmipari Rt. (MAFIRT), placing him in a responsible position in the reconstruction of the Hungarian film industry immediately after the war.
In March 1947 he became director of the Hungarian association of composers, lyricists and music publishers, a position he held until the end of 1952. From 1953 to 1962 he served as deputy director of the Hungarian Music Fund and subsequently became its director. From 1968 until 1983 he was deputy director of the Hungarian Art Fund. These positions made him an important administrator and representative of Hungarian musical life for several decades.
Gyöngy also maintained extensive international contacts. Thanks to his knowledge of languages and his familiarity with both the music business and the film industry, he worked for many years as a Hungarian correspondent and contributor to foreign professional journals, including the American Billboard, the British Music Week and Jazz Journal International, and the West German Musikmarkt. He also represented Hungary at international music events and maintained contacts with musicians and music organizations in numerous European countries.
After retiring from his official position in 1983, Gyöngy remained connected with musical life.

Pal Gyöngy died on 28 June 1990 in Budapest (Hungary).

Pal Gyöngy Archive


In my possession are several dozens of autograph manuscripts and printed scores of music by Pal Gyöngy. The archive inludes parts of the following operettas resp. musicals:


  • operetta "Zsuzsanna es a Könyvek" (Susanna and the books)
    In my archive are full scores for the parts 4 to 10 and piano reductions for the parts 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10. The manuscripts are undated and I could not find any information about the work itself, a performance or a publication. The composition seems to be unknown in the work catalogue of Pal Gyöngy.
Gyongy_Zsuzsanna.pdf


  • musical "Egy operett törtenete" (The history of an operetta) (1977)
    The work was commissioned by Hungarian Radio and based on a play by Jenö Heltai in an adaptation by Robert Ratonyi. A corresponding production was broadcast by Hungarian Radio on 10 November 1977 under the title Zenés játék születik. The different title used in the manuscripts may represent an earlier working title or an earlier stage of the adaptation.
    In my archive is the full score as well as piano reductions for No.1 to 8 and 10 to 12. There are also several voice parts.
Gyongy_OperettTortenete.pdf


  • operetta "Minden jegy elkelt" (All sold out)
    Radio operetta with a libretto and lyrics by Karoly Kristof. The first broadcast took p    lace on 10 November 1958 on Kossuth Radio and lasted about 100 minutes. Several separately preserved pieces in my archive also belong to this operetta, including Szeretlek Budapest, Mire varsz and Hogyha rolam mindent tudnal.
    In my archive are full scores for the parts No. 2, 3, 16, 17 and 26 as well as the piano reduction of Nr.14.
Gyongy_Minden.pdf


  • radio operetta "Bünbak" (scapegoat)
    Radio operetta with a libretto by     György Tokaji and lyrics by Ivan Szenes. It was first broadcast by Hungarian Radio on 23 July 1960.
    In my archive are full scores for the parts No. 1 - 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11 - 15.
Gyongy_Bunbak.pdf


  • operetta "Sohajok haza" (House of sighs)
    The libretto was written by Jozsef Romhanyi. In my archive are piano reductions for the parts No. 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11 and 15.
Gyongy_Sohajok.pdf



In addition I also own autograph scores of the following instrumental works by Pal Gyöngy:

  • Szeretlek Budapest, for small ensemble (1958, instrumental version of the song from the radio operetta Minden jegy elkelt)
  • Tarantella, for piano-forte
  • Tango, for orchestra
  • Trio for 3 wind instruments
  • Kalauz legenda, for small ensemble (ca. 1959, ensemble version of a couplet with lyrics by Istvan Brand)
  • A sunny day, for piano


and scores of the following songs, in autograph and/or printed editions:

  • A Banatos bassrista, for voice and piano (text by: Bela Kapuvari)
  • A Köszikla, for voice and piano (text by: Janos Rakosi)
  • A Margit-szigeten, for voice and piano (text by: Zsuzsa Gal)
  • Amikor egy nyari este, for voice and piano (text by: Bela Kapuvari)
  • Atragyog a nap a felhön, for voice and piano (text by: Bela Eröss)
  • Az eleteddel magad rendelkezel, for voice and piano (1963, text by: Elemer Boross, from the radio operetta Romantika pedig nincs)
  • Barnabas, for voice (text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Beau Brummel‘s promenade, for ensemble (arrangement by Les Williams)
  • Bocsanat, for voice and piano (1936, text by: Dezsö Keller, from the musical comedy Zöld beka)
  • Bossa nova, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan S. Nagy)
  • Buenos dias, Pippo, Pippo, for voice and piano (1963, text by: Elemer Boross)
  • Domboldalon all egy öreg nyarfa, for voice and piano (1936, text by: Istvan Zagon)
  • Ebred az erdö, for voice and orchestra (1956, text by: Zsuzsa Gal)
  • Edesanyam katonafia..., for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Raics)
  • Eljen az alkotmany, for voice and piano (text by: Zsuzsa Gal)
  • Emlekszel meg? Sütött a hold, for voice and piano (1961, text by: Ernö Vecsey)
  • Es jött a zapor, for voice and piano (1960, text by: Ivan Szenes)
  • Esküvö elött..., for voice and piano (text by: Janos Rakosi)
  • Estere kiderul, for voice and piano (text by: György Lorand)
  • Fecskemadas, sargarigo..., for voice and piano (1935, text by: Istvan Bekeffi, from the operetta Harom ember a hoban)
  • Felülünk a göncölszekerre..., for voice and piano (1948, text by: Istvan Varadi)
  • Fenylö harmat, for voice and piano (text by: Laszlo Dalos)
  • Hajnalban, delben, este..., for voice and piano (text by: Zsuzsa Gal)
  • Haragszom a szivemre!, for voice and piano (text by: Ivan Szenes)
  • Harom mafla agglegeny, for voice and piano (text by: Jozsef Romhanyi)
  • Hogyha rolam mident tudnal, for voice and piano (1958, text by: Karoly Kristof, from the radio operetta Minden jegy elkelt)
  • Holnap mar masba szeretek, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Hejnal)
  • Hortobagyi eletkep, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Hova lett a selyemret?, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Huzd fel öcsem az uj cipod, for voice and piano (text by: Rezsö Török)
  • Ich hab‘ ein Rendevous mit einer Melodie!, for voice and piano (text by: Josef Petrak)
  • Ifjusag, boldog ifjusag!, for voice and piano (1965, text by: Zsuzsa Gal)
  • Isidore, for voice and piano (1939, text by: Ande de Badet)
  • Itt az alkalom, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Jaj, megszökött a napsugar, for voice and piano (1960, text by: Ivan Szenes)
  • Jede Frau braucht einen Batschi!, for voice and piano (text by: Josef Petrak)
  • Kar, hogy bucsu lett a vege..., for voice and piano (text by: Ivan Szenes)
  • Keressük a boldogsagot, for voice and piano (text by: Jenö Magyaradi)
  • Kertem, kertem, for voice and piano (text by: Bela Kapuvari)
  • Kislany az agyba‘, for voice and piano (1935, text by: Istvan Szemzö)
  • Ki tudja miert vannak ejszakak..., for voice and piano (text by: Mihaly Szecsen)
  • Kivanok szivböl minden jöt..., for voice and piano (text by: Janos Rakosi)
  • Köszönteni jöttünk, for voice and piano (1964, text by: Istvan Raics)
  • Leptek, for voice and piano (text by: Zsuzsa Gal)
  • Madame, for voice and piano (1939, text by: Henri Varna & Andre de Badet, the song was written for the Paris revue Amours de Paris)
  • Masrol szeretnek beszelni, masrol, for voice and piano (1956, text by: Rezsö Török, from the radio operetta Muzsikalo kastely)
  • Megvert engem kegyetlenül, for voice and piano (1935, text by: Kalman Kovacs)
  • Mi ketten..., for voice and piano (1965, text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Mikor az uccan, for voice and piano (text by: Eva Halasz)
  • Mire varsz, for ensemble (1958, from the radio operetta Minden jegy elkelt)
  • Mondja volt-e mir, for voice and piano (1936, text by: Istvan Bekeffi)
  • Nehez szerep, for voice and piano (text by: Rudolf Halasz)
  • Nem kell mas..., for voice and piano (1949, text by: Janos Rakosi)
  • Nem tudom, magan mit imadok?, for voice and piano (text by: Janos Rakosi)
  • Nincs mas, for voice and piano (text by: Ivan Szenes)
  • Nyilik mar e kek nefelejcs, for voice and piano (text by: Gabor Rudnai)
  • Padladlom, for voice and piano (1959, text by: Karoly Kristof)
  • Romantika pedig nincs, for voice and piano (1963, text by: Elemer Boross, Title song of the radio operetta Romantika pedig nincs)
  • Rozi neni dala, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Sandomingo, for voice and piano (text by: Imre Harmath)
  • Szabadsag..., for voice and piano (text by: Karoly Kristof)
  • Szegeny legeny..., for voice and piano (text by: Imre Harmath)
  • Szeretlek Budapest, for voice and piano (1958, text by: Karoly Kristof, from the radio operetta Minden jegy elkelt)
  • Szombat, vasarnap…, for voice and piano (text by: Laszlo Szilagyi & Dezsö Keller)
  • Tancoljunk hajnalig, for voice and piano (1936, text by: Dezsö Keller, from the musical comedy Zöld beka)
  • Tango Budapest, for ensemble (arrangement by Les Williams)
  • Tünödes.., for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Brand)
  • Tüsarkon tipeg..., for voice and piano (1959, text by: Rudolf Halasz)
  • Ugy erzem, for voice and piano (1959, text by: Rudolf Halasz, from the musical Narancshej)
  • Uj divat a hula hoop, for voice and piano (1960, text by: Rudolf Halasz)
  • Un clair nuage, for voice and piano (1939, text by: Andre de Badet)
  • Vidam tavasz, for voice and piano (text by: Istvan Raics)
  • Vigyazz a szivre..., for voice and piano (text by: Elemer Boross)



miscellaneous items


In addition to the music manuscripts I also own a few personal items from the Pal Gyöngy estate:

  • private photos of Pal Gyöngy, his second wife Mady Manstein and other relatives and friends
  • some photos showing the award ceremony for Sandor Benko receiving the "Hungary's Star of the Year" award from the magazine Musik Week in 1976 for his Benko Dixieland Group
  • a signed photo of French singer Jacqueline Dulac with the personal inscription: "Pour Paul en souvenir pour un merveilleux sejour en Pologne ou naquit notre amitie".
  • the last private appointment calender of Pal Gyöngy from 1990, filled up with entries until May.
  • a medal from the Cesky Hudebni Fond from 1979
  • a birthday letter (in German autograph and typewritten Hungarian) by Istvan Lang, the general secretary of the Maygar Zene Müveszek Szövetsege (Hungarian Composers Association) from 14 October 1982
  • a poster of the performance of "Die unentschuldigte Nacht" (music by Pal Gyöngy) at the Carl Maria von Weber Theater in Bernburg (Germany) on 30 August 1974



Tango for orchestra


The Tango for orchestra is one of the few instrumental pieces by Pal Gyöngy in my archive. The manuscript shows no date, so I have no information when it was composed.

Gyongy_Tango.pdf