Hungary expresses gratitude to Australia for returning precious ‘Hungaricum’ collection
Hungary Expresses Gratitude to Australia for Returning Collection of Valuable Hungarian Documents and Music Scores
Hungary has expressed its gratitude to Australia for its assistance in “healing the wound that the 20th century caused to us,” as stated by Máté Vincze, the deputy state secretary in charge of public collections and cultural development, at the National Széchenyi Library (OSZK) on Tuesday. The occasion marked the presentation of a collection of 248 titles, including documents, scores, and notes of Hungarian folk music and choral works, provided to OSZK by the National Library of Australia (NLA).
Vincze highlighted the significance of bringing back these invaluable documents, scores, and notes to Hungary, which had to be taken abroad in the 20th century for preservation. OSZK director Dávid Rózsa noted that the collection consists of works exclusively by Hungarian composers like Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, along with Hungarian music education publications. More than a third of the items were new additions to OSZK’s collection, showing the cultural value of Hungary’s musical heritage.
Ambassador Ian Biggs of Australia emphasized the global influence of Zoltán Kodály’s teaching method, which has been embraced in Australia since the establishment of the Kodály Music Education Institute in 1973. This method plays a crucial role in promoting music education, especially in primary and secondary schools.
The collection of Hungarian folk music and choral works was a generous donation from the National Library of Australia, marking a significant gesture during the World Library Congress. The collection, originally bequeathed to the National Library of Australia in 1987 by Sydney conservatoire teacher John A. Young, includes publications from Hungary, England, Canada, and the United States between 1935 and 1982, to support music teachers using the Kodály method.
Overall, the return of these valuable Hungarian documents and music scores symbolizes the strong cultural ties and mutual appreciation between Hungary and Australia.
