Mosonyi, Michael Brandt

1814-1870

A piano-player and composer; one of the ablest representatives of Hungarian music; born at Boldog-Aszony, Hungary. In 1834 he went to Presburg, where for seven years he taught piano in the household of Count Pejachevits. In 1842 he moved to Pesth where he met Liszt, who admired him greatly and in 1857 wished to produce his German opera, Maximilian, in Weimar, but by suggesting several changes so discouraged its author that he threw the manuscript into the fire. About 1860 his compositions began to assume a distinctly national tone, and he began to write under the nom de plume, Mosonyi, his name in the Magyar tongue, in stead of using Michael Brandt, as formerly. In 1861 he produced his Hungarian opera, Szep Ilonka, and soon followed this by Almos, which, however, he never finished. He also wrote a funeral symphony for Count Szechenyi; his symphonic poem, Triumph and Mourning of the Honved; Studies for the improvement of Hungarian Music; Childhood's Realm, besides an overture with the national song Szozat and other songs national in character.