Hajdu studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with Endre Szervánszky and Ferenc Szabó (composition), Erno Szégedi (piano), and Zoltán Kodály (ethnomusicology). As a Kodály disciple, he was involved for two years in research about Gypsy musical culture and published several articles on this subject.[1]
Hajdu composed many pedagogical works, particularly for piano and theory through a creative approach (involving the player to the process of composing) e.g. Milky Way, Art of Piano-playing, Book of Challenges, Concerto for 10 young pianists. All this is connected with the practice of creative teaching in the Israel Arts & Science Academy in Jerusalem, an experimental school for a new approach to music teaching. He also studied Jewish Klezmer and Hassidic repertories and published several articles on this subject. He was deeply involved in Jewish topics, not only on the usual folkloristic or liturgical levels, but also confronted more abstract subjects of Jewish thought (Oral Law, philosophical books of the Bible) as well as Jewish History. In 2005 he received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Jerusalem Hebrew University.
Hajdu died in Jerusalem at age 84.[3]
Awards
In 1955, Hajdu won the first prize with his Gypsy Cantata at the competition of the World Festival of Youth in Warsaw.
In 1997, he was awarded the Israel Prize, for music.[4]
Selected works
For the Stage
Ludus Paschalis, a medieval passover play (1970)
The Story of Jonas, Opera for children's choir (1985–1987)
Koheleth (Ecclesiaste), a biblical recitation with 4 celli
Orchestral
Petit enfer (1959)
The Unbearable Intensity of Youth (1976)
Bashful Serenades for clarinet and orchestra (1979)
On Light and Depth (1983–1984)
Concerto for an Ending Century for piano and orchestra (1990)
Continuum for 15 players and piano (1995)
Strings
Truath Melech (Rhapsody on Jewish Themes) for clarinet and string orchestra (1974)
The False Prophet for narrator and string orchestra (1977)
Divertimento (1988)
Overture in Form of a Kite (1985)
Chamber
5 Sketches in Sentimental Mood for piano quartet (1976)
Instants suspendus for violin, viola or cello solo (1978)
Sonatine à la française (Sonatina in French Style) for flute and cello (1990)
Variations for string quartet (1997)
Birth of a Niggun for flute, clarinet and piano (1998)
Mishna-Variations for string quartet (1998)
Music for Three for violin, cello and piano (1999)
Piano
Plasmas (1957)
Diary from Sidi-Bou Said (1960)
Journey around My Piano (1963)
Noir sur blanc (1988)
Metamorphoses (1997)
5 Inventions for piano 4-hands (1983)
Songs
The Floating Tower (Mishnayoth) (1972–1973)
Bestiary (Ted Hughes) (1993)
Merry Feet (1998)
Nursery Songs
Vocal-orchestral
Cycles of Life, Cantata (1985)
Dreams of Spain (1991); about the expulsion of the Jews from Spain
Job and His Comforters, Biblical and Historical Oratorio (1995)
Choral
House of Shaul for mixed chorus (1974)
The Question of the Sons (1974)
Bitzinioth Nov (Song of the Sea) (1973)
Mishnayoth (1972–1973)
Proverbs of Solomon for choir and percussion (1978)
Discography
On Light and Depth. I.M.I. (Israel)
Ecclesiaste Archived 2018-05-11 at the Wayback Machine R.C.A. Victor (France)
Dreams of Spain Archived 2018-05-11 at the Wayback Machine - Hungaroton (Budapest)
Concerto for an ending century Archived 2018-05-11 at the Wayback Machine - Hungaroton (Budapest)
Truath Melech. Plane (Germany)
Book of Challenges Archived 2018-05-11 at the Wayback Machine (Israel)
Retro-Portrait Archived 2018-05-11 at the Wayback Machine (Israel)
Music For Chamber Ensembles Archived 2018-05-11 at the Wayback Machine (Israel)
^"Acclaimed Israeli composer and educator André Hajdu dies at age 84". Jerusalem Post. 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
^"Israel Prize Official Site - Recipients in 1997" (in Hebrew).
Sources
Kennedy, Michael (2006). The Oxford Dictionary of Music, second edition. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861459-4
Schleifer, Eliyahu (2001). "Hajdu, André". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers.
External links
Official Andre Hajdu website Archived 2021-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
Andre Hajdu page from Bar-Ilan University site Archived 2021-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
Andre Hajdu at the Israel Composers' League
Ha'Oman Hai Ensemble on Facebook
Ha'Oman Hai Ensemble: Kulmus Ha-Nefesh
Bibliography on Andre Hajdu, in Ronit Seter, "Israeli Art Music", on Oxford Bibliographies (accessed 14 May, 2024)