Erno Balogh
Erno Balogh, pianist, composer, editor and teacher, was born on April 4, 1897 in Budapest, Hungary. From an early age, he performed and composed music at the piano. Punishment for him was being denied access to the piano. His first compositions, two short piano pieces dedicated to his father, were written at the age of eight. For twelve years, 1905 to 1917, he attended the Budapest Conservatory, completing the Professor's Certificate and receiving the Franz Liszt Prize in piano and composition. During this period, he studied piano with Bela Bartok and composition with Zoltan Kodaly. Balogh became a close friend of both men and he was instrumental in bringing Bartok to the U.S. for his first concert tour in 1927.
Balogh left Hungary in 1919 and arrived in Berlin. He studied piano at the Berlin Conservatory from 1920 to 1923 with Leonid Kreutzer. In 1923, Balogh was considering coming to the United States when he met violinist Fritz Kreisler, who asked him to be his accompanist on a tour of Scandinavia. Kreisler advised him that a move to the United States would be enhanced by this experience because, as Balogh explained, "he was rather well known there, and that having my name listed on his programs would not hurt me with American managers."
Balogh settled in the United States in 1924. He lived in New York City until 1960 and, during that time, was an established figure among concert pianists, appearing in recital and with orchestra throughout the United States and in Canada and Cuba, accompanying the great singers, Lotte Lehmann and Grace Moore and making several recordings. In 1936, he married Malvina Schweitzer, a New York University professor of biochemistry.
In 1960, Balogh and his wife moved to Washington, D.C. and he taught at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore where he influenced many piano and composition students. He wrote articles on piano pedagogy, opera, performance practice, and Bartok for such magazines as Etude, Opera News, and The Musical Observer. Balogh died on June 2, 1989 at the age of 92.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
SERIES I - MUSIC MANUSCRIPTS
Music manuscripts composed by Erno Balogh from 1905 through 1973. This series has been subdivided into eight subseries:
Subseries 100: Piano Solo
The manuscripts are arranged alphabetically within each subseries and the series is located in boxes 1 through 7 (3 linear feet).
SERIES II - PRINTED SCORES
Printed scores composed by Erno Balogh from 1921 through 1966. Most have been published. This series has been subdivided into eight subseries:
Subseries 100: Piano Solo
The scores are arranged alphabetically within each subseries and the series is located in boxes 8 and 9 (1 linear foot).
SERIES III - PHOTOGRAPHS
Photographs and negatives that have been subdivided into the following subseries:
Subseries 100: Balogh
SERIES IV - CONTRACTS
Contracts and correspondence relating to such between Balogh and various music publishers and/or colleagues regarding music manuscripts published between 1924 and 1970. The series is arranged chronologically by title of composition published, with all related renewal contracts and correspondence attached. The series is located in box 11 (.5 linear foot).
SERIES V - CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence, primarily from Bartok and other musicians and to his wife, Malvina, covering the period 1934 through 1991. The series is located in box 12.
SERIES VI - BARTOK MATERIAL
The series consists of articles, brochures, festivals, concerts, correspondence, and auction papers related to Bartok.
SERIES VII - PERFORMANCE FILES
Programs, reviews, promotional materials and similar documents related to specific performances of Balogh. The materials are organized chronologically by performance date and cover the years 1914 through 1975. This series is located in boxes 13 through 17 (2 linear feet).
SERIES VIII - LITERARY MANUSCRIPTS
The series consists of published, unpublished writings, and scripts for the plays. The materials are organized chronologically by date of composition and cover the years 1930 through 1970. This series is located in box 18 (.5 linear foot).
SERIES IX - SUBJECT FILES
Various documents that have been divided into subseries including awards, diaries, materials relating to ASCAP, address books, legal documents, Balogh's obituary, auction papers, biographical articles, his books, compositions, publicity material, recording advertisements and reviews, sketchbooks, certificates, interview/radio scripts, and others. It is arranged chronologically within each subseries and covers the years 1924 through 1973. This series is located in boxes 19 through 22 (2 linear feet).
SERIES X - SOUNDS RECORDINGS
Recordings by Balogh and recordings owned by Balogh of both his music and other compositions from 1941 through 1975. The series is subdivided into the following series:
Subseries 100: Tapes
The subseries are arranged chronologically by date of issue. This series is located in IPAM on shelves (8 linear feet).
SERIES XI - MISCELLANEOUS
A work by Mary McInnis, describing views of Balogh regarding piano technique and pedagogy.
