Marián Varga (29 January 1947 – 9 August 2017) was a Slovak musician, composer and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

. In the context of Czech-Slovak musical culture of the second half of the 20th century, Varga was a significant figure in the field of autonomous, modern classical music, rock music, as well as improvised or experimental music. In 1967, he became a member of the band Prúdy, with whom he recorded and co-wrote the legendary album ''Zvoňte, zvonky''. Influenced by

Brian Auger Brian Albert Gordon Auger (born 18 July 1939) is an English jazz rock and rock keyboardist who specialises in the Hammond organ. Auger has worked with Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Sonny Boy Williamson, Eric B ...

and

Keith Emerson Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 194411 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He be ...

, Marián Varga founded the band Collegium musicum in 1969, whose albums ''Konvergencie'', '' Zelená pošta'', ''Collegium Musicum Live'' and ''Divergencie'' represent the main pillars of Czech-Slovak rock music. He died on 9 August 2017 after several health problems, including cancer and lung disease.

Discography

With Prúdy

*1968: '' Zvoňte, zvonky''

Collegium Musicum

*1970: "

Hommage à J.S.Bach Collegium Musicum was a Slovaks, Slovak art rock / progressive rock band formed by Marián Varga and Fedor Frešo in Czechoslovakia in late 1969, best known for their complex, predominantly instrumental compositions centred around Varga's keyboard ...

/ Ulica plná plášťov do dažďa" (SP) *1971: ''Collegium Musicum'' *1971: ''

Konvergencie ''Konvergencie'' () is the second album by Collegium Musicum, released on OPUS in 1971. It was the first Slovak rock double album to be released. It was recorded in Czech-Slovak Radio studio in Bratislava in September and October 1971, and was ...

'' *1973: ''Collegium Musicum Live'' *1975: ''Marián Varga & Collegium Musicum'' *1978: ''Continuo'' *1979: '' On a Ona'' *1981: ''Divergencie'' *1997: ''Collegium Musicum '97'' (Live)

With Pavol Hammel

*1972: ''Zelená pošta'' *1976: ''Na II. programe sna'' (along with

Radim Hladik Radim may refer to: Places in the Czech Republic *Radim (Jičín District), a municipality and village in the Hradec Králové Region *Radim (Kolín District), a municipality and village in the Central Bohemian Region *Radim, a village and part of ...

) *1978: ''Cyrano z predmestia'' *1989: ''Všetko je inak'' *1993: ''Labutie piesne''

With Vladimír Merta

*1992: ''Cestou k ... Stabil - Instabil''

Solo albums

*1984: ''Stále tie dni'' *2003: ''Solo in Concert'' (Live) *2006: ''Marián Varga & Moyzesovo kvarteto''

Anthology

*2006: ''Hommage à Marián Varga''

Awards

* Hall of Fame ZAI Award – Grand Prix * Aurel Award – Lifetime Achievement *

Pribina Cross Pribina (c. 800861) was a Slavic prince whose adventurous career, recorded in the '' Conversion of the Bavarians and the Carantanians'' (a historical work written in 870), illustrates the political volatility of the Franco–Slavic frontie ...

– 2nd Class

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varga, Marian 1947 births 2017 deaths People from Skalica Slovak organists Slovak composers Czechoslovak Big Beat groups and musicians Recipients of the Pribina Cross