Canon
Where to start with Kodály
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralHáry János, suite from the opera
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KeyboardDances of Marosszék
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VocalPsalmus Hungaricus, oratorio for tenor, chorus, children's chorus ad lib, orchestra, and organ, op. 13
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ChamberSonata for Solo Cello, op. 8
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OrchestralConcerto for Orchestra
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OrchestralDances of Galánta
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OrchestralVariations on a Hungarian folksong, 'The Peacock'
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Vocal150. genfi zsoltar, for chorus
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Vocal2 Drinking songs, for male chorus
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Vocal2 Zoborvideki nepdal, for chorus
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Keyboard24 Kis kanon a fekete billentyukon, for piano
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Vocal4 Madrigali, for chorus
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Vocal6 Trefas kanon, for chorus
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Vocal7 Konnyu gyermekkar
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Keyboard7 Pieces for Piano, op. 11
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Kodály's catalogueMost Popular
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Háry János Suite
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Dances of Galanta
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Psalmus Hungaricus
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Dances of Marosszék
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Variations on a Hungarian Folksong ”The Peacock”
Most Acclaimed
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Cello Sonata Op. 8
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Serenade for Two Violins and Viola
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Missa Brevis
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String Quartet No. 2
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Psalmus Hungaricus
Most Weird
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Cello Sonata Op. 8requires scordatura — the cello’s C and G strings lowered by a semitone; makes the instrument growl
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Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 8wait — that IS Op. 8; his solo cello works are among the most difficult unaccompanied works ever written
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Háry János (opera — not the suite)the full opera with spoken dialogue; the hero is the world’s greatest liar — all his adventures are fabrications
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Meditation on a Theme by Debussy (piano)
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Summer Evening (orchestra)one of the most overlooked orchestral poems of the 20th century
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 83
- Orchestral
- ● Háry János, suite from the opera
- Concerto for Orchestra
- Dances of Galánta
- Variations on a Hungarian folksong, 'The Peacock'
- Ballet Music, "Dance of the Dragoons' omitted from 'Háry János"
- Summer Evening
- Symphony in C
- Theatre Overture
- Keyboard
- Dances of Marosszék
- 24 Kis kanon a fekete billentyukon, for piano
- 7 Pieces for Piano, op. 11
- 9 Pieces for Piano, op. 3
- Gyermektancok
- Meditation sur un motif de Claude Debussy
- Organoeida ad missam lectam, for organ
- Prelude for Organ
- Valsette, for piano
- Vocal
- Psalmus Hungaricus, oratorio for tenor, chorus, children's chorus ad lib, orchestra, and organ, op. 13
- 150. genfi zsoltar, for chorus
- 2 Drinking songs, for male chorus
- 2 Zoborvideki nepdal, for chorus
- 4 Madrigali, for chorus
- 6 Trefas kanon, for chorus
- 7 Konnyu gyermekkar
- 8 Little Duets, for soprano, tenor and piano
- Adventi ének
- An Ode for Music, for chorus
- Angyalok es pasztorok, for chorus
- Arva vagyok, for chorus
- Budavári te Deum, for soloists, chorus, orchestra and organ ad lib.
- Ciganysirato, for chorus
- Cohors generosa, for chorus, for chorus
- Csalfa sugar, for chorus
- Dal, for chorus
- Egyetem-begyetem, for chorus
- Enek Szent Istvan kiralyhoz, for chorus
- Este, for soprano and chorus
- Esti Dal, folksong for high voice or mixed or male chorus
- Felszállot a páva, folksong for male or mixed chorus
- Geneva Psalm 114, for chorus and organ
- Geneva Psalm 121, for chorus
- Gergelyjárás, for high voice chorus
- Golya nota, for chorus
- Hegyi ejszakak, for chorus
- Horatii Carmen II. 10, 'Rectius vives', for chorus
- Hungarian Folk Music, 62 folksongs for voice and piano
- Janos koszonto, for chorus
- Jézus és a kufárok
- Lengyel lászló, for high voice chorus
- Liszt ferenchez, for chorus
- Media vita in morte sumus, for chorus, "Homo perpende fragilis"
- Meghalok, meghalok, for chorus
- Mez, mez, mez, for chorus
- Missa Brevis, for soloists, chorus and organ
- Mátrai képek
- Norvég leányok, for chorus
- Pange lingua, for chorus
- Pünkösdölo, for high voice chorus, "Whitsuntide"
- Stabat mater, for chorus
- Székely keserves, folksong for chorus
- Tancnota, for chorus
- The Music Makers, an Ode, for chorus and orchestra
- Táncnóta, for high voice chorus
- Túrót eszik a cigány, folksong for female chorus or mixed chorus
- Uj esztendot koszonto, for chorus
- Vejnemojnen uzsikal, for chorus
- Vizkerestz, for chorus
- Öregek, for chorus, "The aged"
- Chamber
- Sonata for Solo Cello, op. 8
- Adagio, for violin and piano
- Capriccio for Cello
- Duo for Violin and Cello, op. 7
- Gavotte for 3 Violins and Cello
- Hungarian
- Romance lyrique, for cello and piano
- Serenade, for 2 violins and viola, op. 12
- Sonata Movement, for cello and piano
- Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 4
- Sonatina for Cello and Piano
- String Quartet no. 1, op. 2
- String Quartet no. 2, op. 10
- Stage
- Háry János, op. 15 — Opera
- Szekely fono, operatic folk-ballad in one act