Retrospective Index to Music Periodicals
 

Zenészeti Közlöny [Musical journal]—"a professional gazette for all branches of music, and the official bulletin of the Country-wide Hungarian Choral Society"—was published in Budapest three times a month from 10 January to the 5 August 1882. The journal was edited by a leading personality of nineteenth-century Hungarian musical life, Kornél Àbrányi, sen., who realized that the development of music in Hungary was dependent in part upon an active musical press. After studying music in Hungary, Àbrányi undertook extensive studies in Western Europe where he made the acquaintance of Franz Liszt and studied piano with Chopin and Kalkbrenner in Paris, and with Joseph Fischhof in Vienna. Upon his return to Hungary, Àbrányi worked unceasingly to foster music in his native land, organizing an annual choral festival, establishing the Country-wide Hungarian Choral Society, and carrying on extensive journalistic activities in many non-music journals. He was seriously involved in the efforts to found the Budapest Academy of Music, and under Franz Liszt’s presidency and Ferenc Erkel’s directorship, Àbrányi was appointed the Academy’s first secretary. As a devotee of Chopin, Liszt, Berlioz and Wagner, he made a unceasing effort to have their works accepted in Hungary, and to establish a high level of Hungarian musical culture.

The journal’s first section is regularly devoted to questions of general interest such as the musical life in Hungary and the goals of the Choral Society. Biographical sketches and surveys of single periods of music history follow. As the official publication of the country’s Choral Society, and other singing and music associations, communications concerning these organizations naturally appear in the journal, and constitute its third section. Following are reviews of both concerts and operas in Budapest, provincial locations and abroad, and published music. In Àbrányi's editorial work his personal commitment to Franz Liszt is clearly manifested. Liszt’s arrivals, departures and activities in Hungary are recurring subjects in the news column. A strong commitment to the Budapest Academy of Music is also evident throughout the journal.

Bound with:  Zenevilág. 1890-1891; Zeneirodalmi Szemle-Müvészeti Lapok. 1894-1896

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