Description: | Dezso d'Antalffy (born Dezső Antalffy-Zsiross; 24 July 1885 – 29 April 1945), was an Hungarian/American organist and composer. He was one of the most significant performing artists of his time. He composed pieces for orchestra, chamber orchestra, choir, piano and 30 pieces for organ.
Antalffy-Zsiross Dezső was born in Nagybecskerek, Hungary, (today, Zrenjanin, Serbia) on July 24, 1885. he was accepted at the Budapest Academy of Music where he studied composition with Hans Koesller (1853-1926). Later in Leipzig with Max Reger (1873-1916) and Karl Straube (1873-1950). He studied organ in Bologna, Italy, with Enrico Bossi (1861-1925).
At age 23, he began teaching organ and composition at the Budapest Academy of Music until 1921 and at the same time served as chief organist and choirmaster of the Szent István Basilica (St. Stephen's Cathedral).
In 1921, he traveled to the United States for a concert tour. He also worked as organist at the Capitol Theatre, New York City, before he was invited by George Eastman to teach organ, specifically „motion picture accompaniment" at the Eastman Music School in Rochester.
S. L. „Roxy" Rothafel hired d'Antalffy in 1927 as one of three organists for the opening of the Roxy Theatre in New York.
In 1932, d'Antalffy became staff composer and organist for the Radio City Music Hall. He wrote „Dedication" to a poem by Martha Wilchinski for dedication of the Music Hall on December 27, 1932.
He also wrote an oratorio, „The Voice of Millions", for the broadcast dedication of Rockefeller Center in 1932. Other compositions, such as his operetta, „Onteora's Bride", were performed int he Music Hall. He also played in Carnegie Hall as the organist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Music for these two and several other pieces is on IMSLP.
The Late romantic composite from Augustine (AVO) combines the Orszagh Organ from Bakats square with the Rieger Organ from Kanta. |