Recorded live on 28th June 2014 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégium Kántusa, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar,
Kelenföldi Református Énekkar, Pozsonyi úti Hálaadás Kórus, Bethlen Gábor Református Gimnázium Énekkara, Békéscsabai Református Kórus, Tatai Református Egyházközség Kórusa, Tatai Református Gimnázium Kórusa,
Tiszaújvárosi Református Énekkar, Mezőkeresztesi Kamarakórus, Benkő István Általános Iskola és Gimnázium Kórusa, Julianna Református Általános Iskola Gyermekkórusa, Zilah-Belvárosi Szenczi-Molnár Albert Vegyeskar (Partium), Torontálvásárhely Református Egyházközség Kórusa (Délvidék), Érsekkétyi Református Gyülekezet Kórusa (Felvidék), Lévai Református Gyülekezet Vegyeskara (Felvidék), Újbátyúi-Bátyúi Református Vegyeskar (Kárpátalja)

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Sándor, Cseri Zsófia,
Szabó Szabolcs, Alföldy-Boruss Csilla, Birtalan Judit, Bohák József, Csorba Emese, Ember Orsolya, Géczyné Miklóssy Katalin, Gyenge Károly, Hajtmann Ildikó, Illés Zsuzsanna, Kárpátiné Berkesi Boglárka, Kassai Gyula, Rácz Lóránd Márton, Szokody Ildikó, Tarnóczyné Varga Csenge, Zakarné Szarka Zsuzsanna

ORGAN: Alföldy-Boruss Csilla

Recorded live on 6th July 2013 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégium Kántusa, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Nagyerdei Református Kamarakórus, Kálvin Kórus, Pozsonyi úti Hálaadás Kórus, Pécs Belvárosi Református Kórus, Sárospatak KISREFI Gyermekkórusa, Kaposvári Református Kórus, Séllyei István Református Kórus, Bácskossuthfalvai Református Kórus, Nagyváradi Rogerius Református Kórus (Partium), Szilágysomlyói Bánffy László Énekkar (Erdély), Burgenlandi Református Kórus, Tordaszentlászlói Református Énekkar (Erdély), Te Deum Laudamus Kamarakórus (Alistál – Felvidék), Újbátyúi-Bátyúi Református Vegyeskar (Kárpátalja)

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Sándor, Kárpátiné Berkesi Boglárka, Süll Kinga, Balázs Ágnes, Bódiss Tamás, Borsos Judit, Ember Orsolya, Gúthy László, Dr. Kerekesné Pytel Anna, Komlósi Klára, Kozma Gyula, Nagy Csaba, Oros Márta, Papp Ilona, Szabó Tamás, Takács Zoltánné

ORGAN: Szilágyi Gyula

Recorded live on 30th June 2012 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégium Kántusa, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Nagyerdei Református Kamarakórus, Kálvin Kórus, Nagykőrösi Arany János Református Gimnázium Kórusa, Lévay Református Gimnázium Kórusa, Mezőcsáti Református Énekkar, Szentendrei Református Gimnázium Énekkara, Pozsonyi úti Hálaadás Kórus, Lévai Református Gyülekezet Kórusa (Felvidék), Mille Domi Kórus (Prága), Ungvári Református Énekkar (Kárpátalja), Kézdivásárhelyi Corul Reformat "Hálaadás" Református Dalárda (Erdély), Torontálvásárhelyi Református Egyház Kórusa (Vajdaság), Kassai Magyar Református Gyülekezet, Laudate Dominum Kórusa (Felvidék)

CONDUCTORS: ARANY JÁNOS, BERKESI SÁNDOR, CSERI ZSÓFIA, HARTYÁNYI JUDIT, Balázs István, Bódiss Tamás, Dr. Farkasné Sajó Márta, Ecsedi Péter, Ivaskovics József, Kassai Gyula, Kárpátiné Berkesi Boglárka, Kovácsné Palcsó Edit, Körösmezei-Varga Zsuzsa, Nagy Csaba, Simon Krisztina, Tolvajné Tóth Klára, Tóth Zsolt

ORGAN: Ifj. SZOTYORI NAGY GÁBOR

Recorded live on 30th June 2012 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégium Kántusa, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Nagyerdei Református Kamarakórus, Kálvin Kórus, Nagykőrösi Arany János Református Gimnázium Kórusa, Lévay Református Gimnázium Kórusa, Mezőcsáti Református Énekkar, Szentendrei Református Gimnázium Énekkara, Pozsonyi úti Hálaadás Kórus, Lévai Református Gyülekezet Kórusa (Felvidék), Mille Domi Kórus (Prága), Ungvári Református Énekkar (Kárpátalja), Kézdivásárhelyi Corul Reformat "Hálaadás" Református Dalárda (Erdély), Torontálvásárhelyi Református Egyház Kórusa (Vajdaság), Kassai Magyar Református Gyülekezet, Laudate Dominum Kórusa (Felvidék)

CONDUCTORS: ARANY JÁNOS, BERKESI SÁNDOR, CSERI ZSÓFIA, HARTYÁNYI JUDIT, Balázs István, Bódiss Tamás, Dr. Farkasné Sajó Márta, Ecsedi Péter, Ivaskovics József, Kassai Gyula, Kárpátiné Berkesi Boglárka, Kovácsné Palcsó Edit, Körösmezei-Varga Zsuzsa, Nagy Csaba, Simon Krisztina, Tolvajné Tóth Klára, Tóth Zsolt

ORGAN: Ifj. SZOTYORI NAGY GÁBOR

Recorded live on 25th June 2011 at the Palace of Arts.

"The concert series Reformed Hymns has been a long-cherished dream of mine and occupies a special place in my heart ever since it has begun. The right moment for its realization came in 2002 when to the initiative of the concert director Gergely Böszörményi the centuries old treasure of hymns of the reformed congregations, shared in many respects by other denominations, has stepped into the limelight of the concert podium. It is an immense gain to me personally to be part of this great encounter of church music and the performing arts, as each and every concert makes both of them richer.
Discovering new aspects in well-known songs and improvising while eagerly waiting for the entry of the 300 member choir crowning the organ's solo are the most magnificent moments of organ-playing for me. At this tenth concert of the series, it was a special pleasure that composer Zoltán Gárdonyi's 'Memento', based on four reformed hymns, was also performed, and it sounded as if it has been written for this particular occasion. I wish with all my heart that, just as in the past, the great many of us be so blessed on the next ten concerts as well." János Pálúr

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégiumi Kántus, Vox Iuventutis Gyermekkar, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Sárospataki Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Szegedi Kis Kórus,
Kőbányai Sztárai Mihály Vegyeskórus, Pápai Református Gimnázium Kórusa, Kálvin Kórus, Esztergomi Református Egyházközség Kórusa, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Bácskossuthfalva Ref. Egyh. Kórusa (Vajdaság), Beregszászi Magyar Református Gyülekezet Kamarakórusa (Kárpátalja), Kassai Magyar Református Gyülekezet Vegyeskara (Felvidék), Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara

CONDUCTORS: ARANY JÁNOS, BEIDEK ADRIENN, BERKESI SÁNDOR, CSERI ZSÓFIA, Beke Edit, Bódiss Tamás, Borbély-Fekete Judit, Borsos Judit, Brugós Anikó,
Kiss Gergely, Kissné Kulcsár Sarolta, Ladányi Katalin, Nagy-Szabó Kornélia, Palcsó Edit, Pallagi Etelka, Süll Kinga

ORGAN: PÁLÚR JÁNOS

Recorded live on 25th June 2011 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégiumi Kántus, Vox Iuventutis Gyermekkar, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Sárospataki Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Szegedi Kis Kórus,
Kőbányai Sztárai Mihály Vegyeskórus, Pápai Református Gimnázium Kórusa, Kálvin Kórus, Esztergomi Református Egyházközség Kórusa, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Bácskossuthfalva Ref. Egyh. Kórusa (Vajdaság), Beregszászi Magyar Református Gyülekezet Kamarakórusa (Kárpátalja), Kassai Magyar Református Gyülekezet Vegyeskara (Felvidék), Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara

CONDUCTORS: ARANY JÁNOS, BEIDEK ADRIENN, BERKESI SÁNDOR, CSERI ZSÓFIA, Beke Edit, Bódiss Tamás, Borbély-Fekete Judit, Borsos Judit, Brugós Anikó,
Kiss Gergely, Kissné Kulcsár Sarolta, Ladányi Katalin, Nagy-Szabó Kornélia, Palcsó Edit, Pallagi Etelka, Süll Kinga

ORGAN: PÁLÚR JÁNOS

As all work of art, hymns are the document of the touch between the Creating God and the creating man and the songs safeguarded and inherited throughout centuries by the community have forged privileged moments into steady and happy covenant. In remembrance of this covenant 370 singers of 18 choirs gave a concert in the National Concert Hall “Béla Bartók” with the aim of creating a congregation from the audience. This event was a follow-up of the eight unforgettable concerts offered by the series of Hymns and Psalms of the Hungarian Reformed Church. Selected verses and musical adaptations of the Reformed Book of Hymns were performed by either minor groups of the choir or the whole choir accompanied, this year, by the talented young organ player and composer, András Gábor Virágh.

The congregation got all the blessings of a church service in this June evening. In the introductory parts of each section we heard the Words of the Bible then could listen to the “sounding Word of God” performed by the choir and could even participate by singing several verses of some hymns. These common singings might have offered the most precious moments of the concert confirming the message:
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. (Psalm 119:160)

Recorded live on 25th June 2010 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégiumi Kántus, Soproni Gárdonyi Zoltán Vegyeskar, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Kecskeméti Református Gimnázium Vegyeskara,
Kecskeméti Református Általános Iskola Gyermekkara, Kálvin Kórus, Szentendrei Református Kórus, Csomasz Tóth Kálmán Kórus, Neszmélyi Református Férfikórus, Bácskossuthfalva Ref. Egyh. Kórusa (Vajdaság), Szegedi Kis István Református Gimnázium Férfikara (Békés), Sárospataki Teológia Kórusa, Beregszászi Magyar Református Gyülekezet Kamarakórusa, (Kárpátalja), Kassai Magyar Református Gyülekezet Vegyeskara (Felvidék)

Featuring: CANTORES ECCLESIAE Rézfúvós Együttes

CONDUCTORS: ARANY JÁNOS, BERKESI SÁNDOR, CSERI ZSÓFIA, KOCSIS-HOLPER ZOLTÁN, Beke Edit, Bokorné Forró Ágnes, Bódiss Tamás, Bundzik Tímea, Dóczi István, Gellénné Körözsi Eszter, Hargita Péter, Hoppál Péter, Jámborné Márkus Emőke, Jámbor Zsolt, Ladányi Katalin, Molnár Péter, Palcsó Edit, Süll Kinga

ORGAN: VIRÁGH ANDRÁS GÁBOR

Recorded live on 25th June 2010 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégiumi Kántus, Soproni Gárdonyi Zoltán Vegyeskar, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Kecskeméti Református Gimnázium Vegyeskara,
Kecskeméti Református Általános Iskola Gyermekkara, Kálvin Kórus, Szentendrei Református Kórus, Csomasz Tóth Kálmán Kórus, Neszmélyi Református Férfikórus, Bácskossuthfalva Ref. Egyh. Kórusa (Vajdaság), Szegedi Kis István Református Gimnázium Férfikara (Békés), Sárospataki Teológia Kórusa, Beregszászi Magyar Református Gyülekezet Kamarakórusa, (Kárpátalja), Kassai Magyar Református Gyülekezet Vegyeskara (Felvidék)

Featuring: CANTORES ECCLESIAE Rézfúvós Együttes

CONDUCTORS: ARANY JÁNOS, BERKESI SÁNDOR, CSERI ZSÓFIA, KOCSIS-HOLPER ZOLTÁN, Beke Edit, Bokorné Forró Ágnes, Bódiss Tamás, Bundzik Tímea, Dóczi István, Gellénné Körözsi Eszter, Hargita Péter, Hoppál Péter, Jámborné Márkus Emőke, Jámbor Zsolt, Ladányi Katalin, Molnár Péter, Palcsó Edit, Süll Kinga

ORGAN: VIRÁGH ANDRÁS GÁBOR

Recorded live on 3rd July 2009 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, KRE – Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara (Nagyvárad), Dunántúli Református Kántorképző Énekkara, Ceglédi Sztárai Mihály Vegyeskar, Szegedi Kis Kórus, Pozsonyi úti Hálaadás Kórus, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Tiszáninneni Református Egyházkerület Cantus Firmus Énekkara, Kálvin Kórus, Beregszászi Magyar Református Gyülekezet Kamarakórusa, Nagykovácsi Református Kórus

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Boglárka, Cseri Zsófia, Hoppál Péter,
Berkesi Sándor, Bódiss Tamás, Brugós Anikó, Hargita Péter, Kriesch Katalin, Nagy Szabó Kornélia, Pintér Péterné Fésűs Judit, Süll Kinga, Szűcs Sándor, Veres Györgyné Petrőcz Mária

ORGAN: Varga László

FEATURING: Cantores Ecclesiae rézfúvós együttes

If we are not careful we shall lose our belief in words. Word as one of the greatest treasures of our human existence, is among those things that can raise us above any other creatures on this Earth. Word is both the means and result of God’s creating spirit given to man. But we deteriorate the strength and credibility of our words in several ways. We speak hastily and in an unconsidered way, roughly and superciliously, ambiguously and falsely. And we do not understand any more why it used to be so important to greet everybody who was dear to us with blessings on the first day of New Year. We do not understand the crooked, who had, once, extorted the blessing, by deception, from the blind father, and we understand still less the old man who could not bless the true firstborn as he had already uttered the blessing words.
If we are not careful we shall lose our belief in song. The song is the holiest expression of our human existence; language by which we can directly address the person for whom, otherwise, all created words of our mind would be a vanity. Song is both an expression and incitement of the feeling coming from man to God. The Latin word Cantare means “to song.” Incantare says the Latin, and our word is “to charm”, “to enchant” (words again!). The use of Latin word shows the real nature of singing. Singing cures, purifies, strengthens, lets you speak eloquently even if you are dumb to nice words and, unperceived, builds community among those who sing together. The meaning and influence of word, however perfectly it is chosen, are given by the melody. Nevertheless we intend to underestimate or waste this feature of singing. We hardly understand how a hymn reinforced the heart of soldiers departing for war or made a small army victorious over the enemy superior in number. The story of walls falling down at the sounds is taken for symbolic or metaphoric speech.
Many people think of Calvin whose 500 anniversaries are commemorated this year, that he was a man of rational thoughts, great ideas and precisely used words, who intended to ban music from churches. That is not true. The severe Calvin knew quite well that living and strong community could not be built only on the meaning of scripture, on solemn words. Collective singing shall yield the happy faith in our heart confirming that there is strength in our words. We can be sure that Calvin’s doctrine on the unique purity of the Holy Scripture could spread as on fertile medium because of the art of singing which has flowered in the protestant churches. Could we commemorate the “holy ascetic” buried in an unknown tomb more properly than with those hymns which emerged from this ground?!
The concert series launched eight years ago was born from bold words. Let it be! Common singing of eight unforgettable evenings gave these words meaning and strength. The sowing has been successful and the medium has proved to be fertile. But we know that the increase comes from above. For all results, successes and merit of the past eight years glory shall be to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).
János Arany

After eight years of service we can declare that by God’s grace the concert Reformed Hymns has become the most important music feast of the reformed communities of the Carpathian-basin and the treasure of the reformed psalms and hymns has been an integral part of the CULTURAL AND MUSIC HERITAGE OF HUNGARY. It is therefore among our missions to record on CD and DVD as well as to disseminate the reformed hymns.
On 22 May 2009 the reformed congregations of Hungary, and the trans-border regions of Transylvania, Sub-Carpathia (present Unkraine), Upper Northern Hungary (present Slovakia), Southern Hungary (Voivodina in Serbia) were united in Debrecen at the tolls of all the reformed churches in the Carpathian-basin. The Constitutional Synod approved the constitution of the united Hungarian Reformed Church. It was a great privilege for all of us that I could greet the highest level ecclesiastic and lay leaders (bishops, general superintendents and pastors) of the United Hungarian Reformed Church – from both sides of the borders – at the concert of 3 July. We are glad that Mrs Dalma MÁDL, the Goodwill Ambassador of Hungarian Caritas responds with pleasure to our invitation every year.
We are proud to confess that the concert “HYMNS of the REFORMED CHURCH” is really a concert of the CARPATHIAN-BASIN, because the 15 invited choirs uniting 350 members represent the church districts of Upper Northern Hungary, Transylvania and Sub-Carpathia as well as of Hungary herself. I have always put high priority on safeguarding the unity of Hungarian nation of the Carpathian-basin. (That is why we have organized, since 2002, the concerts Music of Hungarians living in the Carpathian-basin).
We are proud to let you know that CD albums of the concerts HYMNS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH 1 and 2 went PLATINUM, album 7 in November 2008 were included on the MAVASZ list for two weeks. It means for me that there is a demand for God’s SOUNDING WORD.
In 2009 there was also a novelty in the concert scenario. Words of God were read at the beginning of each block by József Asbóth, editor of the Duna television. At the end of the concert, after the introduction of the choirs, conductors and the organist by the concert director, the reverend Kálmán Cseri blessed the congregation.
For eight years, we have adapted 147 psalms and hymns out of the 512 included in our Reformed Hymn Book. So we still have 365 psalms and hymns to put on our programs. Counting the yearly average, we still have 20 years to adapt all of them. During the eight concerts of “HYMNS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH” we invited 6 organists, 29 conductors and choirs, 7 soloists and one brass-band to perform. Many thanks for their services!
Böszörményi Gergely – Concert director

Recorded live on 3rd July 2009 at the Palace of Arts.

The most important music feast of the reformed communities of the Carpathian-basin, the concert “HYMNS and PSALMS of the HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH” has been organized, since 2002, with the aim of recording and editing CDs and DVDs from the PSALMS AND HYMNS OF THE REFORMED SONG BOOK with the performance of highly qualified professional artists. The concert where the 350-member United Reformed Choir of the CARPATHIAN-BASIN, excellent conductors, soloists, chamber choirs and world famous organists participate is now attended – in addition to the Hungarian protestant brethren – by more and more lay music enthusiasts and foreigners who are also pleased to listen to the recorded music pieces. During the concert the audience sings several times with the choirs. Thus a congregation of some 1700 persons sings the Sounding Words of God in the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall of the Palace of Arts. For eight years, we have adapted 147 psalms and hymns and recorded on a series of 8 CDs. Most songs are performed in unison, to help both congregations and schools to learn singing and pastors to support their work, but also in parts to show and promote the Hungarian choral heritage. We still have a long mission and lot of work ahead us to record most of the 512 hymns and psalms of our Reformed Song Book for the present and future generations. We can declare that the treasure of the reformed psalms and hymns has been an integral part of the CULTURAL AND MUSIC HERITAGE OF HUNGARY. It is therefore among our missions to record as well as to distribute the reformed hymns on CD and DVD. We are proud to confess that the concert “HYMNS and PSALMS of the HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH” is really a concert of the CARPATHIAN-BASIN, because the 15 invited choirs uniting 350 members represent the church districts of Upper Northern Hungary, Transylvania and Sub-Carpathia as well as of Hungary herself. I have always put high priority on safeguarding the unity of Hungarian nation of the Carpathian-basin. We do hope that by God’s grace we can go on recording and transmitting the treasure of national songs for long.
Dates to remember:
7th MUSIC FESTIVAL of the REFORMED CHURCH – Budapest, 4-5-6 June 2010.
HYMNS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH VII – Palace of Arts, 25 June 2010.
Gergely Böszörményi

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, KRE – Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara (Nagyvárad), Dunántúli Református Kántorképző Énekkara, Ceglédi Sztárai Mihály Vegyeskar, Szegedi Kis Kórus, Pozsonyi úti Hálaadás Kórus, Firesz Cantate Domino Kórus (Felvidék), Tiszáninneni Református Egyházkerület Cantus Firmus Énekkara, Kálvin Kórus, Beregszászi Magyar Református Gyülekezet Kamarakórusa, Nagykovácsi Református Kórus

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Boglárka, Cseri Zsófia, Hoppál Péter,
Berkesi Sándor, Bódiss Tamás, Brugós Anikó, Hargita Péter, Kriesch Katalin, Nagy Szabó Kornélia, Pintér Péterné Fésűs Judit, Süll Kinga, Szűcs Sándor, Veres Györgyné Petrőcz Mária

ORGAN: Varga László

FEATURING: Cantores Ecclesiae rézfúvós együttes

CHOIRS: Debreceni Református Kollégiumi Kántus, Dunántúli Református Kántorképző Énekkara, Gönci Református Vegyeskar, Kecskeméti Református Gimnázium Vegyeskara, Kecskeméti Református Általános Iskola Gyermekkara, KRE - Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Lévay József Református Gimnázium és Diákotthon Kórusa, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara, Pesterzsébet Központi Református Vegyeskar , Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Sándor, Brugós Anikó, Cseri Zsófia, Bódiss Tamás, Csomós Józsefné, Hoppál Péter, Jámbor Zsolt, Jámborné Márkus Emőke, Kormány Attila, Veres Györgyné Petrőcz Mária

SOLOIST: Écsi Gyöngyi – népének (Felvidék)
ORGAN: Kéménczy Antal

FEATURING: Cantores Ecclesiae rézfúvós együttes

I welcomed the audience with love, happiness and pride on 29 June 2008. We gathered in
- LOVE – in the beautiful concert hall of the Palace of Arts; I was eagerly awaiting this day to become again member of this congregation.
- We were HAPPY – because it is a pleasure to sing (and listen to) the psalms and hymns for God’s glory. It is indeed God’s SOUNDING WORD.
- I feel PROUD – because every year we can celebrate our Reformed treasure, an integral part of our Hungarian music heritage in a full-house concert hall.
In 2008, the Music Festival of the Reformed Church celebrated a minor jubilee, its fifth anniversary in the Ferencváros district of Budapest: Bakáts tér-Ráday utca-Kálvin tér. It was for the first time this year that the Reformed Church of Hungary was present with several institutions at the festival: reformed MISSIONS, exhibition “On the road 66”, textile exhibition of Ildikó SOMODI, representatives of the Youth Office of the Reformed Synod, art groups of reformed schools, professors of the Reformed University “Károli Gáspár”, the Bible Museum, and last but not least the participating orchestras. At the same time, JUNE is entirely dedicated to REFORMED MUSIC – with nation-wide cultural and music programs.
The first concert of the Hymns of the Reformed Church in 2002 and the first Music Festival of the Reformed Church in 2004 have been created with the same intention and idea. The objective has ever been to preserve and show our rich reformed music and culture to the present and the future. In addition to enjoy the traditional psalms, hymns, choral works and instrumental music pieces there has been a good opportunity to demonstrate both folk music roots and modern compositions.
The novelties at this concert of Hymns of the Reformed Church (and the CD) were that Gyöngyi ÉCSI, pastor and folk singer form Upper Northern Hungary sang reformed folk songs with the melody from Verőce and the invitation of Cantores Ecclesiae brass band was an old desire of both the conductors and all of us. In the concert hall of the Palace of Arts, we had again a full house. It was our great pleasure that besides Budapest, coaches with brothers and sisters came from Gönc, Kecskemét, Sárbogárd, Miskolc, Kalocsa, Burgerland (Hungarians inhabited region in Austria), and even 8 persons from Zürich (Switzerland). We are glad to encourage the communities to organise such excursions.
Böszörményi Gergely – Concert director

Recorded live on 17th June 2007 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Fiatal Reformátusok Szövetségének Kórusa (Felvidék), Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Nagykőrösi Tanítóképző Főiskola Kórusa, Lévay József Református Gimnázium és Diákotthon Kórusa, KRE - Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Kunszentmiklósi Református Kollégium Énekkara, Máté János Református Énekkar – Szigetszentmiklós

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Sándor, Cseri Zsófia, Süll Kinga, Bartha Anikó, Bódiss Tamás, Draskóczy Balázs, Hargita Péter, Hoppál Péter, Kormány Attila, Villányi Andrea

SOLOIST: Basky István (tenor)

ORGAN: FASSANG LÁSZLÓ

The concert performance and edition in CD of the reformed hymns and psalms were the results, six years ago, of two ideas. One pillar of the concert series is the book of reformed hymns compiled in 1948 and used even nowadays by the Hungarian Reformed Church. Due to the scientific work of Kálmán CSOMASZ TÓTH, our great music historian, this book became the collection of ecclesiastical hymns of the 20th century. It was therefore justified that these high quality songs be sung at a concert. The other pillar is the protestant music practice widely spread after the Reformation which is mostly built on the artistic adaptation of plain congregational songs, either in the form of organ choral setting, or the chorus motets of cantus firmus or the choral themes of Bach’s passions.
In 2007, the programme of the sixth concert was determined by two significant anniversaries. It is not widely known that Albert SZENCI MOLNÁR’s masterpiece, Psalterium Ungaricum, adapting the Geneva Psalms into Hungarian was published 400 ago in 1607. This important event of the Hungarian cultural history was closely linked to Zoltán KODÁLY’s anniversaries allowing us to put his music adaptations of the seven Geneva Psalms on the programme in the Palace of Arts. The programme was therefore focused on the Geneva Psalms but we also enjoyed some beautiful Hungarian psalm paraphrases from the 16th century which are in our Book of Psalms and Hymns. Of course, the melody of Kodály’s best known Psalmus Hungaricus, printed also in our Hymnbook, was on the programme, as well. The philosophy of the concert was set up by the writer of these lines in consultation with the chorus conductors and the famous organ improvisation artist, László FASSANG who was the music director of the concert and the editor of this CD. Tamás Bódiss

Several new aspects should be mentioned concerning the organisation of the choir concert “Hymns of the Reformed Church VI” and the edition of the album thereof. The first five concerts were held in the most highly appreciated “sanctuary” of Budapest, the Academy of Music, this sixth event took place in the PALACE of ARTS, Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, which is, nowadays, the number one concert hall in Hungary. His excellent faculties offer both good possibilities and great challenges. Instead of the 250-members choir, now a 340-members choir was invited causing a lot of thinking to the conductors and the experts of the Palace of Arts. This album contains performance of eleven choirs - all from the Carpathian Basin.
2007 is declared as the year of creating communities, therefore, in addition to the five “basic choirs”, six others were invited which otherwise could have no chance to give a FULL-HOUSE CONCERT in the National Concert Hall. The endeavour of the choirs coming from different parts of the country has to be recognised and appreciated: they made great efforts to encourage the local population to support them by their presence.
Both the stage and the hall are much larger: an audience of almost 1300 persons participated to the concert. The public became a real congregation and sang several times with the choirs. Similarly to our concert in 2005, the organist László Fassang dazzled both the experts and music enthusiasts.
For technical and organisational reasons, the full length of the concert Hymns of the Reformed Church VI had to be shortened, therefore some songs and organ plays are not recorded on this CD. The six already published albums of the series Hymns of the Reformed Church have recorded 112 reformed psalms and hymns which help us in learning our treasures and in listening to God’s Words. At this concert “Hymns of the Reformed Church VI”, we could be together again by God’s grace in belief and joy with our reformed brethren, friends and relatives – and our beloved departed ones were also with us in soul. Gergely Böszörményi - Concert director

Recorded live on 25th June 2006 at the Academy of Music.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Fiatal Reformátusok Szövetségének Kórusa (Felvidék), Lónyay Utcai Református Gimnázium Kórusa, KRE – Soli Deo Gloria Kórus, Kunszentmiklósi Református Kollégium Gyermekkara, Partiumi Keresztény Egyetem Vegyeskara (Nagyvárad)

SOLOISTS: ARANY János, BASKY István, BERKESI Boglárka, CSERI Zsófia

ORGAN: DRASKÓCZY László

With the 2006 programme of the Hymns of the Reformed Church at the Academy of Music, I want to call everybody’s attention to the marvellous and multicoloured richness of our reformed songs. Including the hymns and psalms performed tonight, the number of songs put already on stage reaches one hundred. And we could always select from the best of our Book of Psalms and Hymns of the Hungarian Reformed Church! It appears again and again how rich a repertoire we have, which, mostly for its content, is useful and enriching, being at the same time poetic and, from a musical aspect, professional and artistic.
Tonight we shall often enjoy the great event of spiritual fellowship of singing together, experiencing the strength of belonging to the people of God. Your confession will reinforce mine when you sing
Kész már az én szívem néked énekelni,
Kész most jóvoltodért nagy hálákat adni,
És mindenekelőtt téged megvallani,
A te szent nevedet örökké dicsérni.
(256,6)
On the other hand, several hymns emphasise the importance of individual piety (338, 416, 469, 470, 511) by the fact that solo singers (Boglárka Berkesi and István Basky) will sing them. As if they related what I thought or would have think of. Let us take some simple choral adaptation where harmonies do not shine with their beauty but have diaconal purposes and – by contouring the main melody, emphasises its importance. Such pieces are the psalm harmonizations (95, 125, 150) of Claude Goudimel from 1565 performed by a solo quartet (Zsófia Cseri, Boglárka Berkesi, István Basky and János Arany) and certain chorus harmonizations (183, 402, 470, 511) hidden among some unisons.
At the end of the concert, we commemorate Zoltán Gárdonyi (1906-1986), one of the greatest composers among those who worked on the reformed church music in the 20th century.
His choral work is the adaptation of an old Hungarian hymn of the 16th century to a mixed chorus accompanied by organ: Devine Lord, our heavenly Creator. The original melody of the hymn is the Sapphicum Dicolon of Petrus Tritonius (1475-1524).
As the organist and programme-maker of the concert I do not want to describe either the emotions these songs induce in me and music performance they stimulate for (I would be incapable to make any particular performance) or how these melodies enriched the fantasy of great composers of the past (I would not be able to show it either). Nevertheless, I will make all efforts that the content and the message of these psalms and hymns get ever closer to us and – by accepting them – they encourage us to thanksgiving and praising of God, on the one hand and to repentance or invocation, on the other, or even to hope, exultation, and to strengthen our faith. And when the children’s voice will loudly sing in the Great Hall of the Academy of Music

„Mindenek meghallják és jól megtanulják,
Kik segedelmüket nem Istentől várják:
Nincsen Isten nélkül segítség és idvesség.”

then this hymn be engraved in our heart as God’s Words because He sends his message to us in the Bible: ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Joel 3:5).
László Draskóczy

For the last five years, concert performance and edition in CD of the reformed hymns and psalms have become a mission for me, i.e. the natural and essential part of my life and work. Thank God, my activity is supported by the best reformed choirs, conductors, organists, soloists and the Reformed Church of Hungary.
No doubt, the climax of the Festival is always the Sunday evening concert “Hymns of the Reformed Church” at the Academy of Music where the 1000-people audience united into a true congregation sang together with the choirs of 250 singers, the soloists and the organist thus becoming the integral part of the performance and the CD. It was a jubilee celebration because we were together for the fifth time to listen to and sing hymns and psalms for the glory of our Lord.
The 3rd Music Festival of the Reformed Church (23-25 July 2006) has improved a lot if compared with previous years’ events. During the three days, 30 concerts, lectures, exhibitions, open professional programmes, singing together and fair were held at the twelve sites of the Festival! So we can proudly conclude that a world level programme was provided by some 600 artists belonging to the reformed and fellow congregations.
ECUMENICALLY BETTER - one of my father’s many heritages for any community. I take his words seriously therefore I invited members of all congregations, both as artists and guests.
At this concert “Hymns of the Reformed Church V”, we could be together again by God’s grace in belief and joy with our reformed brethren, friends and relatives – and our beloved departed ones were also with us in soul.
I want to say special thanks to my brothers, Jenő and Ede for their active help and contribution. Gergely BÖSZÖRMÉNYI / Concert director

Recorded live on 12th June 2005 at the Academy of Music.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Palló Imre Énekkar, Pécsi Református Kollégium Vegyeskara, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Julianna Református Általános Iskola Gyermekkórusa, Fiatal Reformátusok Szövetségének Kórusa (Felvidék), Gödöllői Református Líceum Gimnáziumának Kamarakórusa, Pápai Református Teológia Kórusa

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Sándor, Cseri Zsófia, Hoppál Péter, Gombos Viktor Balázs, Veres Györgyné Petrőcz Mária, Zakarné Szarka Zsuzsa

SOLOISTS: Basky István, Berkesi Boglárka

ORGAN: Fassang László

There is no brighter and warmer prayer than the loudly expressed songs. The words of prayer move only the mind, the thinking soul (psyche), while the sung prayer invites for participating all our body, the breathing soul (pneuma). It is not by chance that the believers have put the songs in the centre of their worships for thousands of years. It is not by chance that the Calvinist practice translated and gave, for the first time, the congregations David’s Psalms, the most personal prayers of the Bible. And it is not by chance, either, that, as a consequence, the tradition of prayers, the hymns sung in the mother tongue flourished in all national churches. That is the reason why the concert of 12 June 2005 put the psalms and old Hungarian hymns into the centre of the programme.

Psalms and hymns are on the programme, with their numbers in the Book of psalms and hymns of the Hungarian Reformed Church. Most melodies are performed by the choirs; some verses are sung by solo singers; certain verses (*) of psalms composed by Claude Goudimel are performed by the newly formed chamber choir, and for some other verses, the whole audience, as a large congregation is invited to sing (bold texts). This process is occasionally broken by a choral work (the title and the author are in italic). László Fassang’s improvisations accompany the hymns and he plays the organ solo with the choral compositions.
Arany János

Being the largest musical event, the Musical Festival of the Reformed Church is the official and national programme of the Hungarian Reformed Church, with the participation of trans-border Hungarians. It is important for the Hungarian Reformed Church to support the creation of a large community from smaller ones and from the believers. In addition to safeguard the heritage of our musical values and traditions, this cultural festival intends to help people in confessing their belief, in knowing better each other and in living in peace with their brethren.
The concert “Hymns of the Reformed Church at the Academy of Music” is organised with the unchanged aim to make records with professional performers, allowing edit a new CD and cassettes. The peak of the Musical Festival of the Reformed Church is definitely the Sunday evening concert with its choirs with over 200 singers, excellent choir masters, soloists and a world famous organist. Beside the Hungarian protestants, more and more “lay friends of music” and foreigners come to the concert. Annually 2-3 new choirs are invited to this event of reformed choirs from all over Hungary, thus complementing the “well-known basic choirs” (“Kántus” of Debrecen, Imre Palló Choirs, Psalterium Hungaricum Choirs, Children’s Choir of the “Julianna” Reformed Primary School and FIRESZ), and new choirs, therefore new communities share the service of the reformed musical life and engage themselves for the CD series of Reformed Hymns.
Three new choirs perform in this CD: the Mixed Choir of the Reformed College of Pécs, the Chamber Choir of the Reformed Secondary School of Gödöllő and the Choirs of the Reformed Theology of Pápa.
The series of CD “Hymns of the Reformed Church” have become, by now, a supporting tool for reformed congregations and ministers, and even for singing teachers, choir masters and, of course, for choirs. Pastors use them when visiting patients, during services at home, but also at religious ceremonies, such as weddings, baptisms or burials.
On this CD, a young man with exceptional talent, László Fassang plays the organ; he has been qualified, in 2005, as the best organist of the world. His humility and respect to the songs and choir singing, his virtuosity in performance without the least exhibitionism delighted all of us – the sound of organ and the rich voice of choirs let God’s Word enter the heart and soul of all listeners.
The other pride of this evening and the CD is that László Draskóczy’s two choral compositions, “Come living water!” and “My unbeatable rock” had the premiere at the concert and is first edited in this album.
At this concert “Hymns of the Reformed Church IV”, we could be together again by God’s grace in belief and joy with our reformed brethren, friends and relatives – and our beloved departed ones were also with us in soul. Gergely Böszörményi - Concert director

Recorded live on 30th May 2004 at the Academy of Music.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Palló Imre Énekkar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Hálaadás Kórus, Julianna Református Általános Iskola Gyermekkórusa, Kelenföldi Református Ifjúsági Kórus, Fiatal Reformátusok Szövetségének Kórusa (Felvidék)

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Berkesi Sándor, Cseri Zsófia

SOLOISTS: Basky István, Berkesi Boglárka, Denke Virág, Hargita Péter

ORGAN: Alföldy-Boruss Csilla

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"In our world, where everything has slowly merged and lost ground, a concert, like this, may awaken consciousness of the Protestants. The confusion of identity and even the loss of identity characterise to-day’s man, and it is indeed important to participate at events and performances that enrich people. We have to confirm where we belong to and why.
However, the fact that we belong to the Reformed Church and are sure to have God’s grace is not enough, because we need the safe base on Whom we can build and save our life. The hymns of our Book of psalms and hymns of the Hungarian Reformed Church are prayers borne from the spirit of reformation, from the fights of our protestant ancestors. They are not only pious hymns but there is life, life full of fights behind them. By making this programme we intended to include the hymns sung in our Churches which inspired many composers for organ pieces.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Csilla Alföldy-Boruss (organ player)

The concept of the album “HYMNS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH III” is slightly different from that of the two previous ones. Our intention by performing, then recording, more and more strophes of the hymns and psalms, has been to learn and to teach. By this album, the proportion of instrumental and sung music has significantly been shifted in favour of the songs. In addition to the performance of the traditional chorus-works, we can now enjoy the art of four excellent soloists, too.
The album “HYMNS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH III” closely follows the concert character, as we recorded also the expression of our happiness, that is the applause at the end of both parts. Only two changes were made in the original programme:
- as a surprise of this evening, the musical speciality of the two hymns performed by the “REFORMED CHORUS OF SZÁSZCSÁVÁS” is recorded at the end of the album,
- the 17 minutes long organ piece of Mendelssohn marvellously played by Csilla Alföldy-Boruss was left out and will be released later, in an adequate environment.
Some weeks before the concerts, we had our meeting with the conductors and Alföldy-Boruss Csilla and decided the programme. We fully agreed to put in the programme such popular hymns (how strange to use this word – popular - here) which the whole protestant community is really familiar with and many people have kept asking for them since the first album (e.g. the psalm 134 and the hymns 479, 460 and the long-awaited psalm 90). By its dramatic character, the most outstanding work of both the evening and the CD is the “Geneva Psalm 114 by Zoltán Kodály” – I thank the conductors and Csilla to have convinced me to put it in the programme. Böszörményi Gergely - Concert director

Recorded live on 12th January 2003 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Baár-Madas Vegyeskar, Psalterium Hungaricum Kórus, Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Fiatal Reformátusok Szövetségének kórusa, Julianna Református Általános Iskola kórusa

CONDUCTORS: Arany János, Cseri Zsófia, Berkesi Sándor

SOLOISTS: Kárpátiné Berkesi Boglárka – szoprán, Basky István – tenor

ORGAN: Pálúr János

It was the second time that Periferic Records organized the solemn evening in the Great Hall of the Academy of Music, where – similarly to the 2002 concert - we might listen to the performance of four choirs (with about 120 singers) singing the hymns and psalms of the Reformed Church. The songs were linked by the improvisations of organist Pálúr, which might qualify for independent compositions. Order of the songs at the concert was also decided by Pálúr who took care of the organisers’ wish as to make the audience sing several times during the concert. As in 2002, the concert was recorded, and now it\\\'s available on CD and MC.

Recorded live on 16th January 2002 at the Palace of Arts.

CHOIRS: Debreceni Kollégiumi Kántus, Pasaréti Palló Imre Énekkar, Baár-Madas Budapesti Református Gimnázium kórusa, Soli Deo Gloria Kamarakórus, Julianna Református Általános Iskola gyermekkórusa

ORGAN: PÁLÚR János

CONDUCTORS: BÓDISS Tamás, ARANY János, DRASKÓCZY László, BERKESI Sándor

„My old idea has come to life now when - with the result of releasing a CD and a cassette, we could record this concert performed by five choirs (some 150 singers) and the organist János PÁLÚR at the Academy of Music, based on the psalms, prayers and songs of the SONG BOOK edited for the USE OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH. According to my plans – indicated in the title – this is the first piece of a series.
The idea of this edition was born in 2000, at the World Meeting of the Reformed Churches in Budapest where many participants looked for CD and cassettes with songs of the Reformed Church. Since then I know that Hungarians living abroad have great demand on having such publications.” Gergely Böszörményi