Ferenc Snetberger
Known for his uniquely distinctive voice in contemporary guitar, Snétberger has crafted a stylistically rich world blending classical and jazz influences. His compositions are seamless dialogues between musical traditions. He is an expert in bringing together the essence of native gypsy tunes, flamenco guitar techniques, samba rhythms, and the timeless compositions of J.S. Bach.
’It’s no exaggeration to say ‘Hallgató’ turns the outsider experience inside-out, creating an alt-alterity by deftly bringing together Hungarian, Jewish, Gypsy, Latin, Elizabethan English, Russian and American elements in celebration/commemoration of difference and belonging, both elegiac and ecstatic. This is the versatile Hungarian composer and guitarist Ferenc Snétberger’s third recording for ECM, after his solo recital album ‘In Concert’ and jazz trio outing ‘Titok’. Here, we find him teaming up with fellow Hungarians the Keller Quartet and bassist Gyula Lázár.’
William Yeoman
Born in 1957 in northern Hungary, guitarist/composer Ferenc Snétberger was the youngest son of a family of musicians. Early on his father, also a guitar player, became his role model. Snétberger studied classical music and jazz guitar. Today he is best known for his art of improvising and his crossing of stylistic borders. His music is inspired by the Roma tradition of his home country, Brazilian music and flamenco as well as classical guitar playing and jazz. He made numerous albums as a leader, co-leader and sideman and has toured all over Europe as well as Japan, Korea, India and the United States.
In 1995 he composed his Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, “In Memory of My People”, on the occasion of the fiftieth year following the end of the holocaust. Inspired by melodies of the gypsy tradition, the concerto is a powerful statement against human suffering. It has been performed by the composer himself with chamber orchestras in Hungary, Italy and Germany and also at the New York UN headquarters (International Holocaust Memorial Day, 2007).
Ferenc Snétberger performed Luciano Berio’s Sequenza XI (for solo guitar) as well as concertos with orchestra by Vivaldi, Rodrigo, and John McLaughlin. He also wrote music for film and theater. In 2002 Snétberger was appointed freeman of his birth town and two years later received the Hungarian Order of Merit. In 2005 he was awarded the Liszt Ferenc Prize in Budapest, 2013 the Prima Díj, 2014 the Kossuth Díj.
In 2004 Snétberger founded his new trio with legendary Norwegian bass player Arild Andersen and Norway-based Italian drummer/percussionist Paolo Vinaccia. With natural ease and on the highest level the three of them bring together choice compositions, technical skills, improvisational drive and musical fantasy. Released in fall 2005, their debut album “Nomad” was greeted with enthusiasm by critics and listeners.
Snétbergers cooperation with Markus Stockhausen started in 1999 with “Landscapes”, a duo suite recorded for Snétbergers album “For My People”. In three movements the musicians immediately create a language of their own showing their talents in an amazing way. Eight years later during which Snétberger and Stockhausen have further been stimulating each other artistically, their duo album “Streams” finally proves their development.
In 2011, Snétberger founded the Snétberger Musical Talent Center (www.snetbergercenter.org), for the musical education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
2016 saw the release of Snétbergers last solo album In Concert and one year later the new Trio album Titok with Anders Jorman on bass and drummer Joey Baron for the prestigious label ECM records. His last album Hallgató was released in 2021 at ECM New Series.
“A terrific collaboration between veteran Hungarian guitarist Ferenc Snétberger and András Keller’s string quartet that takes us through six centuries of music – from sweet settings of John Dowland’s compositions for lute to modernist classics by Shostakovich and Samuel Barber,alongside some darkly elegant pieces by Snétberger himself”.
John Lewis, Guardian