Geszler, Gyorgy

Gyorgy Geszler

Biography

Born: February 01, 1913

Died: January 9, 1998

Country: Budapest, Hungary

Studies: Budapest Music Academy

Teachers: Keszler; Bela Bartok

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Geszler came from a very musical family. He completed his studies at the Franz Liszt Music Academy, studying composition with Albert Siklós and harmony with János Koessler. He also graduated from Imre Keéri-Szántó's piano class. His early successes as a composer, among them the Gépetüdök (Machine studies) and Hangköz-etüdök (Interval studies, 1935-37), earned him prominence among the avant-garde movement. He perfomed with Béla Bartók as a pianist in a joint concert in 1936. In 1940, he was awarded the Franz Joseph prize for his work.

The war years (1941-45) and their aftermath exerted a dramatic influence on his possibilities both as a composer and an individual in the 50s and 60s. He was fired from his job at the Conservatory, and performances of his works were prohibited. He also had to fight to prevent his family of four children and his parents from being exiled to the provinces. The superb set of Inventions and 24 preludes and fugues for piano (1954-82) represents his inner retreat through abstraction.

When the op-art of the French-Hungarian artist Viktor Vasarly arrived in Hungary, the artist's structural ideology, strict discipline and harmony and aesthetic of colours led to a profound artistic friendship developing between the two men. As a result Geszler composed his Five Vasarely Pictures (1972) for two pianos and percussion instruments, which was premiered by a group of musicians including Bartók's widow Ditta Pásztory. This was followed by other works inspired and dedicated to Vasarely: Sonata coordinata (1970), Three axonometric studies for two pianos and percussion (1979), Musica optica No. 1, 2 and 3 for piano duet (1982), Architetonic construction, which was inspired by Vasarely's picture Coloured city (1990). Later important works include Anagrams (1988), dedicated to György and Márta Kurtág, and the flute and piano sonata Vision written for Anna Garzuly. In 1995, he composed another work for flute and piano, At Béla Bartók's grave. In 1998 he received the Leo Weiner prize.

Works for Percussion

Öt Vasarely-Kép (Five Vasarely Paintings) - Percussion Duo; Pianos (2)