Collected Writings of László Lajtha, Composer and Pioneer of Ethnomusicology

Abstract This review essay examines a critical edition of the collected writings of László Lajtha, a prominent twentieth-century Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist. The collection, edited by Melinda Berlász, compiles Lajtha’s writings from 1910 to 1962, including previously unpublished manuscripts and translations of works originally in other languages. It gathers his texts by subject into six chapters, covering topics such as Hungarian folk music, dance, musical instruments, and personal reflections. This publication is likely to spur further research into Lajtha’s life, compositions, and ethnomusicological work, and will make his writings more accessible to an international audience.