I just sight-read the Dance Scherzo by Denes Agay.



It's sooooo dissonant, but so fun to play! I think I am going to try and learn it for my graduation recital in two months.

But who is this guy Denes Agay? Anybody heard of him?

A google search didn't bring any biographical information.

BUT.... the sheet music says "Copyright 1969 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New York, NY" so I guess he is a 20th century (1969) American (ASCAP) composer. And from his name, I would bet he's of South American / Latin American descent.

From the Magrath Guide:

Denes Agay (b. 1911) Hungary

A prolific composer for piano, Agay moved to the USA where he has held editing positions with several New York music publishing firms.

Den's a gay?

>.>

I never knew :p

:rolleyes:

Bartok, Dohnany, Cziffra, Agay... all Hungarians

Denes Agay is the editor of "The Joy Books" like in "The Joy of Chopin", etc.( Yorktown Music Press), "Popular Classics", "Learning to Play the piano", "The Art of Teaching Piano".

As J. Thompson did, Agay modified some pieces (simplified) without mentioning it (no "simplified version" warning).

Denes Agay put together 4 anthologies of music... I think very well represented... Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. I have the Latter 2. Had the Romantic Repetoire since I was 15... sooo its pretty old . Just got 20th Century.

From the back of the book

"Denes Agay, composer of numerous award-winning piano works and editor fo many highly regaurded, widely used volumes of educational materials, was born in Hungary. He studied piano and composition at the Liszt Academy in Budapest and received his PH.D. from the University of Budapest. In the US since 1939, he has held important posts with several music publishing firms as composer, editor, and educational consultant. His compositions, transcriptions and compilations for piano students are estensively used by piano teachers, music schools, colleges, and universities in the US and throughout the world. Dr. Agay is a wel known lecturer-clinician on the divers aspects and processes of music pedagogy"

phew... thats a mouthful!