Organists Delegation to Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland
Professor Margaret McElwain Kemper, delegation leader
August 28 – September 8, 1998

Monday, August 31, 1998

Budapest

Liszt Ferenc Academy
On Monday, August 31, we met Mr. József Kárpáti at St. Anna Church, one of the main churches of Buda, built in ornate Baroque style in the 1700s. Originally a Jesuit church, it is now Dominican. Due to renovations at the Liszt Academy we were unable to meet there.

In 1905, the banks of the nearby Danube River were reinforced. Before that, the river flooded frequently, often flooding the church. The building is rich in paintings and gold gilt. The paintings of heavenly scenes on the ceiling add a sense of more height to the ceiling. There are figures on the Rückpositiv case playing instruments—trumpets, harp and drums. Mr. Kárpáti is the organ-master at St. Anna Church, and he also teaches at the Liszt Ferenc Musical Academy. We met Professor István Lantos, who is head of the entire keyboard department at the Liszt Academy. He is both a pianist and an organist, and has traveled to many countries, including Japan and the U.S., playing recitals on both instruments.

Before 1945, there was no organized education system for learning organ. The Hungarian Music Institute was organized in 1950 for teaching all instruments. Organ became one of the most important.

Mr. Kárpáti received his diploma in 1957, during which time he organized the organ program, of which he was the only teacher. This grew into a system of 22 schools of music, six of which teach organ. At the Liszt School, where Mr. Kárpáti teaches, there are three teachers for 50 organ students. There is a serious lack of practice instruments. Students try to arrange to practice in churches. There is also a school for cantors, where students may also study organ.

Students usually begin with five or six years of piano study before beginning organ study. Music school begins with a four-year base study, then four more years for a higher degree. There is a wide range of ages of organ students now, including children and adults. Some do it for a hobby. Most talented students continue to study in a conservatory, such as the Bela Bartok Institute of Music in Budapest, where most students are ages 14 to 18. They are there prepared for the Academy of Music, which is only for the best and most talented students. All of this education is free of charge! Full-time students at the Academy have examinations twice a year, in January and May or June. Those who complete the program, which is usually five years or ten terms, receive a diploma. There are also some part-time students who get a certificate after two years, and then go to another country to receive a diploma.

Professor Lantos said that during the years from 1947 until 1989, when the country was isolated due to the political situation, there were no influences from other countries. Now they can exchange their experiences. The Hungarian tradition is very rich, but it is important to have many international connections. Students now attend international competitions. Prof. Lantos shared some of his thoughts on organ teaching. Improvisation should be started at an early age. It is difficult to teach improvisation systematically. Students usually have two 1-hour lessons per week. There are conflicts in performance practices between “traditional” and “modern” players, i.e., early music performance techniques.

Beginning organ method books by Zananffy and Antalfy are most common. Hungarian composers popular between 1947 and 1989 include Kodaly, Koloss, Soproni, Durko, and Gardonyi. Students play Bach, early and Romantic French music, and some smaller Reger works. Since 1989 there are more jobs and better organs. St. Anna’s organ is more than 200 years old, but the original pipes were either destroyed or stolen. The organ was restored in 1985 by Jemlich in Dresden.

Mr. Karpathy and Mr. Lantos demonstrated the organ, which contains three manuals—Hauptwerk, Schwellwerk, and Rückpositiv—and Pedal. The key action is tracker, with electric stop action and 32 general pistons.

Reporter: Mr. Michael B. Surratt


Aquincum Organbuilder Company
In the afternoon, our delegation visited the Aquincum Organbuilder Company. Upon arrival, we were met by chief technician and vice-president Mr. László Varga. He presented us with pamphlets bearing a condensed history of the firm and photographs of their major instruments. He informed us that since 1976, their company resumed building tracker action organs and process a huge market in Hungary and Iceland. In Germany they build organs for both churches and private homes. The tracker action they build are the same as the Dutch suspended tracker action, but they prefer to combine both Romantic and Baroque voicing. Their superior pipe organs are in the Hungarian cities of Györ, Zirc, Pannonhalma, and Tihany, in the convents and monasteries. The Benedictine Abbey in Pannonhalma and the Abbey in Tihany house their best works.

The delegation then proceeded to meet the director Mr. Gábor Kovács, chief technical planner; designer Mr. Laszlo Peur of the Aquincum Company; and the chief organist Mr. Attila Pasztor of the Ferenciek Tere Templon on location. In this Franciscan church built in 1743, they reconstructed and added new divisions to the original instrument which was built by Rieger, the Aquincum Company’s former name. The building of the nearby subway destroyed the instrument and the church wall, but in 1991, the insurance company financed the rebuilding. This instrument has the original 1902 casing with the Main division in the center, Expressive Positive on the left, Swell on the right, Rückpositive on the front of the balcony, and the Pedal on the far right and far left. The wind pressure is 75 to 80 mm. Tracker action is used, but the stops and combination stops are electrical.

Mr. Kovács gave us a brief history of the company which celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1994. They are the oldest organbuilder company in Hungary operating without interruption. Founded in 1894 by the Rieger brothers in Silesia, they became independent in 1974. They make their own pipes except the reed pipes which are made by Giesecke. Twenty-five people work in their factory. The company restores, builds, and maintains pipe organs in Hungary. Mr. Pasztor demonstrated the characteristics of the instrument and we were invited to play and inspect the pipes and actions.

Reporter: Ms. Valerie W. Ng


Csilla Matuz Recital
The delegation went to St. Stephen’s Basilica for an evening organ concert by Csilla Matuz. For 19 years, every Monday during July, August, and September, the St. Stephen’s Basilica Organ Concert Series is presented.

Csilla Matuz was born and trained in Hungary. She has earned master’s degrees in piano, cembalo, and organ. The French romantic program included the Vierne “Carillon de Westminster,” the “Cantabile” and “Final” of César Franck, “Le Banquet Celeste” of Messiaen, and Dupré’s “Symphonie-Passion.”

Csilla Matuz performed each piece in fine style and with great authority. The repertoire was especially suitable for this French romantic instrument which was originally built by Joseph Angster, a student of Cavaillé-Coll. She performed a challenging repertoire with a good balance of emotion and technique. The concert was done incredibly well with the three elements of concert present—performer, a large and appreciative audience, and a fine organ.

Even the church tower bell ringing at 8:00 p.m. in the middle of the “Symphonie-Passion” did not affect her self-control. The good acoustics in the Basilica helped to make this concert on the King of Instruments a wonderful event.

Reporter: Ms. Shin-Ok Lee