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László Somfai

1934 – 2026

Hungarian musicologist

Music historianUniversity teacher Academic
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About László Somfai

Lived 1934 – 2026 (aged 91). László Somfai was a Hungarian music historian, university teacher, academic, periodical editor, musicologist and editor.

László Somfai (15 August 1934 – 11 February 2026) was a Hungarian musicologist.

Life and career Somfai was born in Jászladány on 15 August 1934. He first studied History of Music, graduating in 1959 with a dissertation on the classical string quartet idiom of Joseph Haydn. He went on to earn a PhD in musicology.

He was a professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, specializing in classical style, Haydn, and Béla Bartók. He also taught at the City University of New York and the University of California, Berkeley.

Among his work is the BB catalogue of Bartók's compositions.

Somfai died on 11 February 2026, at the age of 91.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Music historian, university teacher, academic, periodical editor, musicologist, editor
Nationality
Education
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Positions held
Professor emeritus
Awards
Academy Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Erkel Ferenc Prize; Small Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary; ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award; Széchenyi Prize; Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic
Also known as
Laszlo Somfai

People in László Somfai's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped László Somfai's

Frequently asked questions

Who was László Somfai?

Hungarian musicologist (1934–2026)

When was László Somfai born?

László Somfai was born on 15 August 1934 in Jászladány.

When did László Somfai die?

László Somfai died on 11 February 2026.

What was László Somfai's occupation?

László Somfai was a music historian, university teacher, academic, periodical editor, musicologist and editor.

What nationality was László Somfai?

László Somfai was Hungarian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: László Somfai

· Wikidata: Q442269

· DBpedia: László Somfai

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). László Somfai. https://biography.guide/laszlo-somfai/

MLA: "László Somfai." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/laszlo-somfai/.

Chicago: "László Somfai." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/laszlo-somfai/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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