László Vidovszky started to play the piano at
the age of five and studied composing from 1959
in the Szeged Secondary School of Music with
Géza Szatmári. Between 1962 and 1967, he was
a pupil of Ferenc Farkas at the Liszt Academy
of Music in Budapest, and after graduation,
was a recipient of the Arts Fund Scholarship for
three years. Thanks to a half-year UNESCO
Scholarship, he was also able to study in Paris
(1970), where attended courses held by the
Groupe de Recherches Musicales of the ORTF,
as well as composition classes given by Olivier
Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1970,
with the encouragement of Albert Simon, he founded the New Music Studio
with Péter Eötvös, Zoltán Kocsis, László Sáry, and Zoltán Jeney. He has taught
continuously since 1972, first starting out at the Teacher Training Institute of
the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Since 1984, he’s been teaching at the
University of Pécs, and since 1999, at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest.
His major works include: Promenade (2015); Le piano et ses doubles (2012); Reverb
(2011); ASCH (2007); Páros (2003–2007); The Death in my Viola (2005); Etudes for
MIDI piano I–IV. (1990–2003); Zwölf Streichquartette (2000); Silly Old Muzak (1997);
Movie (1993); Music to the Hungarian Pavilion of the Sevilla World Expo (1992) with
Zoltán Jeney; Twelve Duos (1987–1989); Romantic Readings (1983); Narcissus and
Echo (1980–1981); Sound-Color-Space (1980) with Ilona Keserü; Schroeder’s Death
(1975); Autoconcert (1972), and a variety of instrumental and electroacoustic
compositions and voice installations. Between 1973 and 1989, he worked
as a film composer, writing a number of soundtracks for the films of Gábor
Bódy, Ildikó Enyedi, Ágnes Háy, and János Tóth. He was awarded the Erkel
Prize (1983); the Bartók–Pásztory Award (1992); the title Merited Artist (1996);
the Soros Foundation’s Artist Prize (2001); the Knight’s Cross of the Merit
of Order of the Hungarian Republic (2004), and the Kossuth Prize (2010).
He is a member of the Széchenyi Academy of Literature and Arts.
STAGE WORKS
Találkozás/Encounter – Tragedy, Op. 30 (1980), 1 Act, 2 actors, vl., harp, perc.
Lib: Péter Nádas
Nárcisz és Echó/Narcissus and Echo – Opera, Op. 2 (1980–1981), 1 Act, S, A, T,
B, female chr., chbr. orch. Lib: Ágnes Meller, Judit Rácz Pub: UMP EMB
Lear – Chamber Ballet, Op. 44 (1988), 1 Act, vl., vla. Co: Imre Eck
ORCHESTRAL WORKS
Töredékek/Fragments, Op. 3 (1970), symph. orch. Pub: UMP EMB
Zene Győrnek/Music for Győr, Op. 4 (1971), symph. orch. Pub: UMP EMB
Induló a zászlók bevonulásához/March to the Procession of Flags, Op. 29
(1980), symph. orch. Pub: UMP EMB
Romantikus olvasmányok, No. 2/Romantic Readings, No. 2, Op. 38 (1985),
symph. orch. Pub: UMP EMB
German Dances, Op. 59 (1990), str. orch.
Ady: A fekete zongora/Ady: The Black Piano, Op. 89 (1995), midi-pno., orch.
Orksztrion/Orchestrion, Op. 121 (2005–2012), symph. orch.
CHAMBER WORKS
405 – For Prepared Piano and Freely Assembled Instrumental Ensemble,
Op. 5/1 (1972)
405, Op. 5/2 (1972), prep. pno., chbr. ens. Pub: UMP EMB
C+A+G+E MUSIC, No. 1, Op. 7 (1972), 5 instr. (ad lib.) Pub: Jelenkor Online
C+A+G+E MUSIC, No. 2, Op. 8 (1973), 3 pno.
Kettős/Double, Op. 9 (1968–1972), 2 prep. pno. Pub: UMP EMB SR: SLPX 12284
Tiszteletkör/Honour Lap, Op. 15 (1975), unspecified instr. ens.
Solo with Obligato Accompaniment, Op. 33 (1979–1982), unspecified
melody-instr./unspecified instr. ens. SR: SLPX 12456, HCD 31725
Romantikus olvasmányok, No. 1/Romantic Readings, No. 1, Op. 35 (1983),
ens. Pub: UMP EMB
190, Op. 36 (1984), ad. lib. melody instr., perc., 2 pno.
Wiederholung in Es – Wind Octet after Hummel, Op. 39 (1985), 2 ob., 2 cl.,
2 hn., 2 bs.
Narkisszosz és Harpyák/Narcissus and Harpies, Op. 40 (1986), 2 xylorimbas,
2 mar.
Twelve Duos, Op. 42 (1987–1989), vl., vla. Pub: UMP EMB SR: SLPX 31190,
BMC CD 075
3hangú felgondolások I–IV. – For Three Keyboards, Op. 43 (1979–1988)
A–Z, Op. 46 (1989), pno. 4 hands SR: BMC CD 090
German Dances, Op. 48 (1989), str. quartet Pub: UMP EMB
Soft Errors, Op. 49 (1989), ens. Pub: UMP EMB
A la recherche du temps précieux – For Four Pianos and Four Mute
Metronomes, Op. 64/1 (1990–1992)
Pastime – In Search of Precious Time, Op. 64/3 (1992), 2 pno., 4 silent
metronomes
Other Gymnopedies, No. 4, Op. 85 (1994), 2 tr., str. quartet
Üzenet egykori skólámba/Message to My Former School, Op. 87 (1995), pno.
4 hands
A Simon-Pure Tune Composed by a Studious New Musician, Op. 88 (1996,
rev. 2000), pno. 6 hands (vl. ad. lib.)
Nine Little Greeting Chorales to Kurtág, Op. 91/2 (1996), 2 pno. Pub: UMP EMB
Black Quartet, Op. 93 (1993–1997), covered perc. instr.
Flue-Piano Sonata, Op. 94 (1997, rev. 2004)
The Death of my Viola, Op. 98 (1996–2005), vla., chbr. ens.
Festive Fanfare, Op. 99 (1998), 4 tr.
EL – The Death in My Viola, No. 2, Op. 100 (1998–1999), vla., chbr. ens.
SR: BHKZ CD 02
German Dances, Op. 103 (1999), pno. 4 hands
Hoquetus, Op. 104 (2000), 2 mar., 2 vibr.
Zwölf Streichquartette, Op. 105 (2000) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 075
For One or Two Cimbaloms, Op. 106 (2000) SR: BMC CD 046
1 db darab/One pc Piece, Op. 109 (2000), 2 cl., 2 cimb.
Albeniz-délibáb/Albeniz-Mirage, Op. 110 (2000), pno., CD
Closing Time, Op. 111 (2000–2001), 2 cimb.
Violin-Radio Sonata, No. 1, Op. 113 (2001)
2hangú felgondolás, Op. 114 (2001), 2 cimb.
Notturno, Op. 116 (2002), str. quartet
Páros/Duo, Op. 119 (2003, rev. 2007), vl., vlc.
Post scriptum ad missam Maria zart Jacobii Obrecht, Op. 120 (2005),
str. quartet
ASCH, Op. 122 (2006, rev. 2007), str. sextet
VOCAL WORKS
Songs from Horace, Op. 1 (1966), S, vl., vlc., harps.
Motet (Quantum tibi gratulentur), Op. 31 (1981), SATB Lib: Hildebert de
Lavardin
Nymphenchor, Op. 37 (1985), female chr., pno. Lib: Judit Rácz (after László
Ungvárnémeti Tóth)
Machaut követése/Machaut’s Imitation I–III., Op. 101 (1998), voice, 3 instr.
Machaut-kommentárok/Machaut Commentaries, Op. 107 (2000), voice, vla.
Aria grazioso – From the Opera “Golden Time”, Op. 115 (2002), voice, toy
pno., chbr. ens.
SOLO WORKS
Versus, No. 2, Op. 1 (1968), fl. SR: HCD 31785
Schroeder’s Death, Op. 14 (1974–1975), prep. pno. (2/3 assistants) Pub: UMP
EMB SR: Edition Zeitklang CD EZ10002
78528, Op. 20 (1978), pno. (2/3 assistants)
Polonaise Funebre, Op. 25 (1979), pno.
Méditations sur le mystere d’ O M, Op. 80 (1993), org.
Other Gymnopédies, No. 1–3, Op. 84 (1994), pno. Pub: UMP EMB
Nine Short Chorals Greeting Kurtág, Op. 91/1 (1996), pno. Pub: UMP EMB
WORKS FOR PLAYER PIANO
Gépmenyasszonytánczene/Mechanical Bride’s Dance, Op. 47 (1989)
3-hangú felgondolások I–IV – For Player Piano, Op. 43/2 (1990)
Une semaine de beauté, Op. 50 (1983, rev. 1989), 2 player pno.
Aboriginal Rag, Op. 51/1–3 (1990, rev. 1992–1993)
Auto-Repeat, Op. 52 (1990, rev. 1992–1993) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Baroque, Op. 53 (1990) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Faust’s March, Op. 54 (1990, rev. 1999) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Lejárt lemez/Yesterday’s Song, Op. 55 (1990) SR: BMC CD 014
Magyar táj amerikai ecsettel/Hungarian Landscape with an American Brush,
Op. 56 (1990, rev. 1992)
Némajáték/Mime, Op. 58 (1990)
Fractional Scales, Op. 63 (1990, rev. 1991)
A la recherche du temps Précieux, Op. 64/2 (1992)
Chord-Study, Op. 66 (1992) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Berlioz, Op. 67 (1992) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Futaki Song (Inventor rutili), Op. 71 (1992) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Hommage à Veszelszky, Op. 72 (1992) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Oldies but Goldies I.–II., Op. 75/1–2 (1992) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Praeludium, Op. 77 (1992) Pub: UMP EMB SR: BMC CD 014
Not Wanting to Say Anything about John, Op. 78 (1992)
Simultaneously, Op. 79 (1992)
Praeludium & Walzer, Op. 82/2 (1993)
Loco-Dances, Op. 86 (1995)
10 000 Sounds for Dezső Tandori, Op. 102 (1998)
AUDIOVISUAL WORKS
Autoconcert, Op. 6 (1972), 2 players, suspended instr.
A fejedelem üzenete I./Message from the Prince, No. 1, Op. 16 (1976),
melody instr., S8 film projectors
Souvenir de J., Op. 19 (1977), single-tone whistles (49/64/81/100 performers)
A fejedelem üzenete II./Message from the Prince, No. 2, Op. 26 (1980),
melody instr., S8 film projector
A fejedelem üzenete III./Message from the Prince, No. 3, Op. 27 (1980),
melody instr., S8 film projector
Na-ne Audio Video Games, Op. 57 (1990), Atari ST computer, Yamaha FM
system
ELECTROACOUSTIC WORKS
Copf/Pigtail, Op. 24 (1979), at least 5 tape loops
Circus, Op. 11/2 (1997), audiotape
A megismételt ismétlődő/The Repeated Repeater, Op. 45 (1989), MIDI
keyboard, synth. (Yamaha FM), computer (1 performer)
…about John, Op. 76 (1992), prep. pno., tape
Fin(n)ish, Op. 90 (1996, rev. 2001), computer controlled synth. (1 performer)
Songs by Péter Rostás, Op. 92 (1996), computer programmed sampler
Hullám/Wawe, Op. 95 (1997), computer programmed sound generator
Silly Old Muzak, Op. 96 (1997), computer programmed sampler
T mint triptichon, T mint Tanaka/T for Triptych, T for Tanaka, Op. 97 (1997),
sound installation
La crépuscule d’une aube, Op. 112 (2000–2001), soundscape
