Background
Thern was born in 1817,in Spišská Nová Ves (Zipser Neudorf in German, Iglo in Hungarian. Now in Slovakia).
composer conductor music educator
Thern was born in 1817,in Spišská Nová Ves (Zipser Neudorf in German, Iglo in Hungarian. Now in Slovakia).
He was among the second generation of composers who developed the language of Hungarian art music He conducted at the National Theatre of Pest in 1840s, and at the Music Lovers" Association of Pest between 1868 and 1873, in succession to Mihály Mosonyi. He was also active as a teacher at the National Conservatory.
Thern"s incidental music included Svatopluk by József Gaál (1839) in which he introduced the tárogató alongside standard orchestral instruments.
His operas included Gizul (premiered 21 December 1841), The Siege of Tihany (Tihany ostroma. 12 April 1845), and The Would-be Invalid (A képzelt beteg.
11 October 1855). Gizul was described as a ".. remarkable reflection of the endeavour to give schooling a Hungarian character, to adorn it as if it were in Hungarian garment".
His other music includes a Symphony (1871). A Trio in Doctorate minor for two violins and viola, Operation
60. A Hungarian March for piano 6-hands.
Landleben, 8 Character Pieces for piano, Operation 38; a Nocturne for solo piano, and songs for plays about Hungarian village life.
Thern"s music has been rediscovered by the Hungarian pianist Ilona Prunyi. Karoly Thern made a number of arrangements for piano duet or two pianos, including:
Grieg"s Piano Concerto in A minor (commenced by Grieg and added to by Thern.
Thern"s version was published in Leipzig in 1876 and has been recently recorded for the first time)
Beethoven"s 4th Piano Concerto
Liszt"s Hungarian Rhapsody Number.
15 "Rakoczy March" (under the pseudonym "Reth North Karoly")
Schumann"s Andante and Variations for 2 pianos, 2 cellos and horn, Operation 46
Karl Goldmark"s Overture Sakuntala, Operation 13
Robert Volkmann"s Variations on a Theme of Handel, Operation
26.
1. Thern died in Vienna in 1886.