On the turn of the 20th century Greek Catholic sacred music held sway over much of the music scene of Sub-Carpathia, in the north-eastern part of Hungary. A great many members of the Byzantine-rite Rusyn clergy, as well as Hungarians, were well versed in music, which was put to use in maintaining high artistic standards in the daily liturgy. One significant master of this period was Joann (Janos) Boksay (1874 - 1940), a Greek Catholic celebrant, composer and church choirmaster. His output includes pieces for piano, dramatic incidental music and children's operas, but his most important works are considered to be his ten Divine Liturgies of St John Chrysostom, four of which have survived. The most widely known one is the Mass in C major, composed in 1900, whose simple and pure melodies have earned it folk-hymn status among the Greek Catholics in the Munkacs (Munkacevo, Ukraine), Eperjes (Presov, Slovakia), and Hajdudorog eparchies. |
