This album is the second volume in a series dedicated to the piano works of Hungarian composer Ferenc Farkas, with the first volume focusing on Italian-inspired pieces.
Performer Biography
Imre Antal, a well-known Hungarian pianist and TV personality, had his career compromised by paralysis in his right hand in 1971, leading Ferenc Farkas to compose left-hand pieces for him.
Historical Context
During the 1950s, Hungarian authorities, influenced by the Iron Curtain, expected composers like Farkas to write conservative and optimistic works, despite his earlier experiments with dodecaphony.
Composition History
Farkas' 'Correspondances' cycle, composed in 1957, was inspired by his trips to Vienna and a performance of Pierre Boulez's 'Le marteau sans maître', which impressed him greatly.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Farkas' works are conceptual rather than programmatic, allowing listeners to imagine a hidden story behind the sounds, with the musical themes and subtitles creating an emotional-intellectual arc.
Compositional Technique
In the 'Journal 1986' cycle, Farkas included a hidden signature in the first piece, an encrypted anagram of his name 'F-AR / C+As / F-E-R-EN / C' using specific notes.
Composer Biography
Ferenc Farkas, a Hungarian composer, was a true European citizen, fluent in half a dozen languages, and traveled extensively for performances of his works, artistic knowledge, and to participate in festivals and competitions.
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