Mihály Mosonyi

As a teacher of the piano Mosonyi's students included Abranyi and Mihalovich. He was a composer and musicographer who made his premiere with an Overture and First Symphony in 1843 and 1844. His second major debut was the Piano Concerto (1844) significant for its solitary movmeent. By the time he composed his Second Symphony he was much more at ease with Hungarian themes and musical `vernaculars' as he had become familiar with Liszt. Having been born Michael Brand he now took the Hungarian name of Mosonyi in 1859 composing piano works combining specific Hungarian flavors with his music. Larger works employing Mosonyi's newly discovered idioms included the "Homage to Kazinczy" and "Festival of Purification at the River Ung." The latter, though composed earlier than "Homage," was a retelling of Hungarian battle victories during the ninth century. Mosonyi was a strong advocate and proponent of a new Hungarian national style. ~ Keith Johnson