György Miklós Fehér’s compositions have
been performed extensively both in his native
Hungary, as well as worldwide, in countries
including the United States, United Kingdom,
Germany, France, Spain, Slovakia, Finland,
Estonia, and Ukraine. He is a member of the
Hungarian Composers’ Union and the Szegedbased István Vántus Society. His opera, Between
Two Shores, opened the Hungarian National
Opera House’s Contemporary Opera Showcase
series in 2020. Born on the 22nd of June 1951
in Budapest, he learned the piano and oboe
before going on to study composition at the
Béla Bartók Secondary Music School in Budapest. His talent was recognized
early on: a Piece for Wind Orchestra won him the Special Prize at the Miskolc Wind
Orchestral Music Competition in 1967 and his Two Choral Pieces for Women’s
Choir after Siberian Folk Texts (Op. 4) received 3rd Prize at the People’s Education
Propaganda Office’s Competition in 1980. Upon graduating from the Liszt
Academy of Music in Budapest as a composer and teacher of music theory in
1977, he started his composition career as composing under the name György
Fehér until 1988, when he decided to use his full name. As director of music at
the Roman Catholic Church in Nyíregyháza from 1984 until 1986, he organized
and conducted the 1985 concert commemorating the 400th anniversary of the
birth of Heinrich Schütz. His work there – including performances of early
choral and organ music – inspired his St. John’s Passion, two Requiems, a Mass,
and other sacred musical works, as well as his comic opera, Korvin’s Spirit. He is
also passionate about teaching and has taught at the music colleges in Szeged
and Miskolc, in music schools in Budapest, and, since 1977 until his retirement
from teaching in 2011, at the Vác Secondary School of Music.
OPERAS
Korvin lelke/Korvin’s Spirit – Comic Opera, Op. 42 (1998–2002, 2013), 1 Act
Lib: Composer (after Gyula Krúdy)
Két part között – Rákóczi útja Kassáig/Between Two Shores – Rákóczi’s
Journey to Kassa, Op. 87 (2004–2019), 2 Acts Lib: Mária Csabai
ORATORIC WORKS
A jövendő férfiak/The Men of Future – Cantata, Op. 3 (1977, 1988), B,
children’s chr., SATB, symph. orch. Lib: After Attila József’s Poems
A szamariai asszony/The Woman of Samaria, Op. 81 (2014–2015), MS, T, Bar,
male’s chr., sax. quartet, org. Lib: Biblical Text
CONCERTOS
Flute Concerto, Op. 75 (2011), fl., str. orch./pno.
Double Concerto for Two Flutes and Wind Orchestra, Op. 83 (2014–2015)
Concerto per oboe d’amore e archi, Op. 88 (2018), ob. d’amore, str. orch.
ORCHESTRAL WORKS
Rákóczi nyitány/Rákóczi Overture, Op. 77 (2012), symph. orch.
CHAMBER WORKS
Quintetto d’ottoni, Op. 1 (1976–1977), 2 tr., french hn., trb., tuba Pub: EMB
Requiem for Violoncello and Piano, Op. 17 (1990), vlc., pno.
Introduction and Variations on Themes by György Kurtág, Op. 27 (1995), 2 fl.
Via crucis, Op. 44 (2000), 4 guitars
Viola Sonata, Op. 54 (2003), vla., pno. Pub: Neuma
Violin Sonata, (Transcription of Op. 54) (2009), vl., pno.
Violoncello Sonata (Transcription of Op. 54) (2012), vlc., pno.
Mint egy tőr a madarat/Like a Dagger Upon a Bird, Op. 85 (2016–2017), trb., pno.
Concerto per oboe d’amore e organo (Transcription of Op. 88) (2018–2019),
ob. d’amore, org.
String Quartet, Op. 91 (2020–2021), 2 vl., vla., vlc.
CHORAL WORKS
Two Choral Pieces for Women’s Choir after Siberian Folk Texts, Op. 4 (1979),
female chr. Pub: Népművelési Propaganda Iroda
12 Microludes for Mixed Choir – Hommage à György Kurtág, Op. 5 (1980),
Lib: Sándor Weöres
János-passió/St. John Passion, Op. 25 (1986–1995), solo voices, SATB
Lib: Biblical
Clamor Sapientiae, Op. 15 (1988), SATB Lib: Biblical
Betlehemi királyok/The Three Kings, Op. 16 (1989), SATB Lib: Attila József
Mass, Op. 18 (1991), female chr., org./vlc., ens. SR: AURIN 02
Intelem/Admonition, Op. 19 (1993), Bar, SATB, org. Lib: Sándor Weöres
Ave Maria, Op. 22 (1994), SATB, org./pno.
A hegyi beszéd – A nyolc boldogság himnusza/The Sermon on the Mount –
The Eight Beatitudes, Op. 26 (1994–1995), female chr., french hn.
Ave Maria (Transcription of Op. 22) (1994–1997), 2 children’s chr., org./pno.
Miserere mei, Deus, Op. 30 (1996), SATB Lib: Psalm 50:3–51, Vulgata
Cantate Domino canticum novum, Op. 38 (1998), female chr., org./pno.
Hajnali énekszó/A Song at Daybreak, Op. 39 (1998–1999), children’s chr.
Lib: Composer
A hegedű/The Violin, Op. 39 (1998–1999), female chr. Lib: János Arany
Nemzeti dal/National Song (1998–2000), male chr., symph. orch./wind
orch./pno. Lib: Sándor Petőfi
Mindszenty, Op.43 (1999–2000), SATB Lib: Tibor Tollas
Miatyánk/Our Father, Op. 51 (2002), MS, A/children’s chr., SATB, org.
Three Easy Pieces for Men’s Choir, Op. 70/2 (2009–2010)
Te voltál egyetlen virágom/You Were My Only Flower, Op. 79 (2013–2014),
female chr. (MS, A) Lib: Sándor Petőfi
Csendes tenger/Quiet Sea, Op. 82 (2014–2015), T, male chr., str. orch.
Lib: Composer
Requiem in C, Op. 89 (2019–2020), male chr.
Two Movements for Women’s Choir, Two Violins and Organ, Op. 92 (2020)
Lib: Árpád Marton
VOCAL WORKS
Three Miniatures, Op. 2 (1977), S, cl., trb. Lib: Sándor Weöres
In memoriam János Pilinszky – Song Cycle after Poems by János Pilinszky,
Op. 7 (1981), S
Song Cycle, Op. 13 (1986), S, fl., ob., 2 cl., bs., french hn., tr., trb., tuba., str.
quintet Lib: Sándor Weöres
Betlehemi királyok/The Three Kings (Transcription of Op. 16) (1990), high/
medium/low voice, pno. Lib: Attila József Pub: Composer
Mi van a földben/What’s Beneath the Ground (Four Songs from Op. 13,
Transcribed for Voice and Piano) (1992), S, pno. Lib: Sándor Weöres
Savanyú krumplifőzelék/Sour Potato Stew, Op. 20 (1993), S/T, pno.
Lib: Tibor Tollas Pub: (In the Third Volume of ‘A magyar dal mesterei/
The Masters of Song’)
Ave Maria (Transcription of Op. 22) (1995), S, MS, A, Bar, org./pno.
Át a Dunán/Across the Danube, Op. 52 (1993–2003), T, pno. Lib: Sándor Weöres
A fényes Nap immár lenyugodott/The Bright Sun Has Set, Op. 56 (2004), MS,
rec. Lib: After Csángó Folk Text
Sóhaj/Sigh, Op. 57 (2004–2005), S, vlc. Lib: Laura Iancu
Pont. Te/Just. You (Transcription of Op. 59/1) (2005), S, MS, vlc./pno.
Lib: Laura Iancu
Ave verum corpus, Op. 63 (2005), high/medium/low voice, pno./org.
Pub: Composer
Pont. Te/Just. You, Op. 59/1 (2005), S/MS, pno. Lib: Laura Iancu Pub: Composer
Visszaszámolás/Final Countdown, Op. 61 (2006), MS/Bar, pno. Lib: Laura
Iancu Pub: Composer
Mikor az utcán átment a kedves/As My Beloved Crossed the Lane, Op. 67
(2006), S/MS, pno. Lib: Attila József Pub: Composer
Timor et tremor, Op. 76 (2010) (Second version), S, MS, Bar, org. Lib: Psalm
54:6–18, Vulgata
Agnus Dei, Op. 74 (Transcription of the Fourth Movement of Op. 18) (2012,
2016), 1.MS/S, org./pno. (2012), 2. MS/S, str. quartet (2016)
Fresco-ritornell, Op. 78 (2013–2014), 3 folk singers/MS, 2 A, fiddle/vl., folk
vla./vla., folk db./db. Lib: Sándor Petőfi
Two Árpád Marton Songs, Op. 90 (2020), S, pno.
SOLO WORKS
Requiem for Organ, Op. 17 (1989)
Per Oboe Solo, No. 2., Op. 23 (1994)
Solo No. 2., Op. 23 (2015), cl.
Notturno 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., Op. 24 (1994–2002), fl.
Ungaresca with Variations (Hommage à Zoltán Jeney), Op. 28 (1995), guitar
Sorskönyvek és Sorskönyvi történet/Scripts 1., Scripts 2., Op. 46 (2001, 2007), vl.
Inventions, Op. 55 (2003–2005), harps/pno.
Three Little Organ Pieces (Transcriptions of Op. 55) (2005–2007)
PEDAGOGICAL WORKS
Palotai álmok/Palota Dreams, Op. 31 (1996), 2 guitars
Rezeg a szakálla/His Beard is Quivering (Csángó Folk Song Adaptations),
Op. 31 (1996), 3 guitars
Violoncello Duos, Op. 48 (2000), 2 vlc.
Duos, Op. 72 (Transcription of Op. 48), 2 rec./2 fl./2 ob./2 cl./2 tr./2 sax.
Pub: Kortárs Zeneműhely
Inventions, Op. 55 (2003–2005), harps./pno.
INCIDENTAL MUSIC
A bíborszínű álom/Foremother Emese’s Carmine Coloured Dream – School
Play (1996), solo voices, SATB, chbr. ens. Lib/Dir: Mária Csaba
A nemzetőr/The Guard of the Nation – School Play (1998), solo voices, SATB,
chbr. orch. Lib/Dir: Mária Csaba
Az áldozat/King Saint Stephen’s Sacrifice – School Play (2000), solo voices,
SATB, chbr. ens. Lib/Dir: Mária Csaba
A vezérlő fejedelem/The Commanding Grand Duke – School Play (2003),
solo voices, SATB, chbr. ens. Lib/Dir: Mária Csaba
Ne lépj a fűre/Don’t Step on the Grass – School Play (2006), solo voices,
SATB, chbr. ens. Lib/Dir: Mária Csaba
TRANSCRIPTIONS
Bartók, Béla: Rumanian Folk Dances (1994), 2 cl., 2 french hn., org.
