Kod ly started sketching ideas for his only symphony as early as the 1930s and completed the first two of its three movements by the early 1950s. The death of his wife and his own illness intervened, but his recovery to full strength and second marriage to a much younger woman seems to have invigorated him, so he complete the work in 1961, at the age of 79. It is a masterpiece which might be considered the ultimate denoument of his life-long occupation with the genuine folk music of Hungary and the nations to the south and east of it. Cellos and basses state a dignified theme to open the work; this is contrasted with a folk-song second subject. The central emphasis of the work is the fine middle movement, beginning "andante moderato" with a striking and memorable folk or folk-like melody on violas. This forms the basis for a great set of variations. The finale, a whirling dance-like movement marked "Vivo, " runs to a vigorous conclusion. One of the greatest symphonies of the 20th Century.

© Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide