While it might not be the first country you think of when you think of classical music, Hungary has a long and storied history as a hub for classical composers.
For centuries, Hungarian composers have been at the forefront of artistic innovation, producing works that have had a profound impact on the global classical music landscape.
In this article, we will explore the lives and works of 13 of the greatest Hungarian composers who have made their mark on the world of classical music in countless ways. Let’s get started!
1. Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
First up is Franz Liszt, a Hungarian composer and pianist from the Romantic era. Born in 1811 in Doborján, Hungary, he started writing music at just eight years old and soon began taking piano lessons and performing in concerts.
Liszt’s exceptional piano skills and compositions made him a prominent figure in the classical music world. One of his most well-known and beloved compositions is his Liebesträume (Dreams of Love), a set of three solo piano pieces.
In addition to his musical talents, Liszt was also a writer and philanthropist. He is credited with creating the symphonic poem and making innovations in harmony and thematic musical transformations.
2. Béla Bartók (1881–1945)
Up next is Béla Bartók, a 20th-century composer and pianist. He co-founded ethnomusicology, a study of music from different cultural and social viewpoints.
Born in 1881 in Sânnicolau Mare, in what is now considered Romania, Bartók showed huge talent as a pianist from a young age, and he studied piano under the tutelage of István Thomán, a former student of Franz Liszt.
Throughout his career, he composed many types of music, like orchestral works, string quartets, and more. Some of his famous pieces include six string quartets, the orchestral pieces Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta and Concerto for Orchestra, and the piano collection Mikrokosmos, which he created to help teach piano.
3. Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967)
Zoltán Kodály was not just a composer but also a teacher who spread music education throughout Hungary, focusing on folk music. He became great friends with Béla Bartók while collecting and recording Hungarian folk songs in remote villages.
Throughout his career, Kodály kept creating music and educational works and went on tours. Some of his most famous pieces are Dances of Galánta and the Háry János Suite, which mix classical and folk music.
He is best known, however, for the Kodály Method, a music education approach that focuses on singing, ear training, and movement. This method, still widely used today, aims to instill a love of music in children.
4. György Ligeti (1923–2006)
Hungarian-born composer György Ligeti is one of the widely regarded composers of the 20th century, particularly in the avant-garde.
His works include Atmosphères for orchestra, known for its unique tonal clusters, and the opera Le Grand Macabre. His études for solo piano are also famous for being technically challenging and creative use of rhythm and texture.
Ligeti’s music has greatly influenced contemporary classical music and has been featured in several popular films. Stanley Kubrick used his compositions in 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and Eyes Wide Shut.
5. Leopold I (1640–1705)
Our next composer, Leopold I served as the Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia from 1658 to 1705.
His father, Ferdinand III, was a known composer who influenced Leopold I growing up. Although he did not study music specifically, Leopold I inherited his father’s musical gifts and had an interest in music from an early age.
He continued in his father’s footsteps and welcomed famous musicians and composers to play in his courts, including Antonio Bertali, Johann Fux, and Giovanni Bononcini.
His most popular pieces are sacred music, such as the Requiem Mass he wrote for one of his wives after her death.
6. Bálint Bakfark (1507–1576)
Virtuoso lutenist Bálint Bakfark was a popular composer in the Renaissance era. Born an orphan in Brasso, Hungary, in 1526, he had his heart set on working for the French king as his lutenist, but he discovered that the position was already filled after traveling to Paris.
Eventually, he worked as the court lutenist for Sigismund II Augustus of Jagiellon, Poland, and started touring around Europe.
He went on to write several intriguing fantasies, madrigals, chansons, vocal motets, and polyphonic lute arrangements, all of which were favorites of the public. Sadly, Bakfark was a victim of the plague of 1576, and his manuscript music was burned.
7. Karl Goldmark (1830–1915)
Jewish Hungarian composer Karl Goldmark was born in 1830 in Keszthely, Hungary. Mostly self-taught, he did receive some formal training in Vienna.
Despite financial struggles and a tough start, Goldmark eventually found success and became a respected figure in Viennese music circles.
He is best known for his opera Die Königin von Saba (The Queen of Sheba), which was very popular in Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another notable work of his is the Rustic Wedding Symphony.
Goldmark also made significant contributions to music education in Austria. He co-founded the Vienna Conservatory, taught composition there, and helped shape its curriculum.
8. Miklós Rózsa (1907–1995)
Budapest native Miklós Rózsa is one of Hungary’s most famous composers and conductors. His mother, a pianist and former student of Franz Liszt, introduced him to classical and folk music early on.
Encouraged by his musical family, Rózsa took up violin and piano. By age eight, he was already performing concerts and composing his own music.
After moving to Paris in 1931, he composed works that were introduced in Duisburg, Germany, and praised by famous conductors like Charles Munch, Hans Swarowsky, and Karl Böhm.
Rózsa enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood after moving to the US and becoming a citizen, receiving 17 Oscar nominations for his many film scores.
9. Ernő Dohnányi (1877–1960)
Ernő Dohnányi, also known as Ernst von Dohnányi, was known for his outstanding piano playing, unique yet traditional composing style, and conducting skills.
Dohnányi began studying music with his father and a church organist and later graduated from the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music.
Influenced by Romantic composers like Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann, he wrote a variety of music — chamber music, concertos, symphonies, and operas.
Some of his well-known works are his Piano Quintets, Variations on a Nursery Tune for the piano and orchestra, and Suite in F-sharp Minor.
10. Emmerich Kálmán (1882–1953)
This Hungarian composer is known for creating 20th-century Viennese operetta. Emmerich Kálmán blended Viennese waltz music with Hungarian folk dances called csárdás.
His big break came in 1915 with the operetta Die Csárdásfürstin (The Csárdás Princess) in Vienna. Other popular works include Gräfin Mariza (Countess Maritza) and Die Zirkusprinzessin (The Circus Princess).
When Nazism rose in the 1930s, Kálmán, who was Jewish, faced persecution. He moved to Paris in 1938 and later to the US in 1940. Despite these challenges, he continued to compose, creating works like Marinka and Arizona Lady, until his passing in 1953.
11. Franz Lehár (1870–1948)
Also famous for his operettas is Austrian composer Franz Lehár. He started out as a musician and conductor in various orchestras before he began composing.
His big break came with the operetta The Merry Widow in 1905, which was an instant success. He was great at blending romantic melodies with entertaining themes, which made him popular with audiences of all ages.
Until his passing in 1948 at the age of 78, he continued to write successful operettas like The Land of Smiles and The Count of Luxembourg. Later on, many of his operettas were filmed, preserving his legacy.
12. György Kurtág (1926–)
Great composers don’t have to come from the Classical or older era. György Kurtág is a modern Hungarian composer who started making waves in the mid-20th century with his music.
Drawing inspiration from literature and philosophy, he has composed a wide variety of pieces, including orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal pieces. One of his most famous series is Játékok (Games), featuring short, detailed pieces for different ensembles.
Despite being a contemporary composer, Kurtág has had a big impact on modern classical music. His works are performed by top musicians around the world and have earned him many awards, including a Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal.
13. Julius Dobos (1976–)
Hungarian-American composer ends our list. Julius Dobos is best known for blending electronic and orchestral music in a style called “organic electronic.” Listen to his album Mountain Flying for a great example of this; it combines a large orchestra and choir with synthesizers.
Dobos has also created music for movies like You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and Zookeeper, as well as TV shows — Dragon Ball Z fans might be familiar with his work.
Currently, Dobos is working on a project called Forgotten Future, a series of concept albums. The first part, Forgotten Future: W1, was released in 2015 and has been well-received.
Summing Up Our List Of The Greatest Hungarian Composers
That’s a wrap on our look at some of Hungary’s famous composers! As you’ve seen, Hungarian music is a beautiful mix of romance, folk influences, and national pride, and it has given us some of the world’s greatest composers.
We hope this article has helped you appreciate these amazing musicians even more and maybe even introduce you to some new favorites. Feel free to explore more of their music!
