Sandor Veress

Full biography Sandor Veress

Sándor Veress was a Swiss composer of Hungarian origin , born in Kolozsvár (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania) in 1907 and passed away in 1992. He was a significant figure in Swiss and Eastern European contemporary music, specializing in orchestral and chamber music. Veress studied composition under Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, and Leó Weiner at the Budapest Academy of Music, where he received his diploma in 1932. In his early works, Veress showed a deep reverence for his homeland's rich folk music traditions, combining them with a contrapuntal method of composition.

During World War II, Veress emigrated to Switzerland, where he settled and began teaching at the Music Academy in Basel in 1949. After that, he became a citizen of Switzerland. Later, he taught at the Music Academy in Bern and the École Normale in Lausanne, where he worked until 1972. He is well-known for his symphony, chamber music pieces, and songs, creating over five hundred works that ranged from pieces for solo instruments to orchestral works. He completed several commissions for the Hungarian government and festivals, including the International Bartók Festival in Debrecen.

Veress' works are characterized by a deep knowledge of counterpoint, sonority, rhythmic energy, and imaginative use of modern musical language. His composing style assimilates Hungarian folklore with the contemporary avant-garde, a balance that gives his music authenticity and emotional depth. His string quartets have received critical acclaim, particularly the third quartet, which was inspired by Swedish author August Strindberg's “Playing with Fire.” Veress' music is available on Spotify, and ECM Records released a recording of his chamber music in 2000, including his solo work, Duo for Violin and Cello, and his String Trio.