Jenő Ádám was born in Szigetszentmiklós and became a well-known music educator, composer, and conductor throughout the country. He was born in 1896 and, after obtaining his teaching degree, was sent to the Eastern Front during World War I. He was captured and sent to Siberia, where he escaped and made his way back to Hungary through a series of adventures. Upon his return, he enrolled in the Hungarian Music Academy (today Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music), where he became a teacher until his retirement.
At the beginning of his career, Jenő Ádám achieved success as a composer. His works were created in the spirit of Hungarian folk music, as initiated by Bartók and Kodály. He achieved great success with his musical play, 'Hungarian Christmas,' and also wrote full-length musical plays, string quartets, orchestral suites, and choral works.
In the 1930s, he embarked on a major project with Kodály to popularize Hungarian folk songs through radio broadcasts. In the program, in addition to folk songs, he taught students his own arrangements, which resulted in songbooks such as 'Száll az ének' and 'Két szál pünkösdrózsa.'
In 1933, he completed Felix Weingartner's conductor school and began to work as a conductor. He achieved his first major success with Handel's oratorio 'Saul' and later conducted many baroque oratorios. As a conductor, he formed and led the male choir of the Music Academy for 20 years, was the choir director of the 'Budai Dalárda', and successfully led the 'MÁV Testvériség' Male Choir and the Ferenc Liszt Choir both in Hungary and abroad.
However, his greatest successes were achieved as a teacher. Encouraged by Kodály, in 1942 he wrote his fundamental work, 'Methodical Teaching of Singing Based on Relative Solmization.' At the same time, his school textbooks based on the new method were first published, the 'Szó-Mi' booklets and then the 'Énekeskönyv' textbook series. He designed the booklets and textbooks himself down to the smallest details.
He loved teaching passionately and wanted to make folk songs known and cherished by the entire Hungarian nation - that's why he not only taught at home but also visited Hungarian communities around the world, and traveled to about fifty Hungarian-populated settlements across the globe.
About the Memorial House
The building is a farmer's house built at the end of the 19th century, and it fits into the old cityscape of Árpád Street in style. The building was inaugurated as the Ádám Jenő Memorial House on October 5, 1979, and Ádám Jenő himself was present at the inauguration.
Upon entering the house, Ádám Jenő's study can be found behind the door on the right side. The furnishings in the room come from the composer's apartment from Buda and are displayed in their original form.
In the entrance room and the next room facing the street, visitors can view the tangible mementos and documents of the music educator's career, as well as listen to some of his works and excerpts from his radio programs. In the room facing the street, Ádám Jenő's piano is displayed alongside several paintings. The room, furnished with chairs, is used for small chamber performances.