Zahovay Ernö

HU

SK

Black and white portrait of a young man in a suit and tie, with a serious expression, inside an oval frame on a textured background.

As a 17-year-old young man

Black and white photo of a young boy sitting on a chair with a torn and worn background.

Autumn 1915

Black and white vintage photograph of a man with three children in formal attire, with two children standing and one sitting, possibly from the late 19th or early 20th century, with handwritten text below.

Ernö’s grandparents' family

A young child sitting on a chair, dressed in a sailor-themed outfit, with a ruffled skirt and dark shoes, in a vintage black-and-white photograph.

A child as sweet as candy.
About 1.5 years old

A vintage black and white photograph of a bride and groom standing together indoors. The bride is wearing a long white wedding gown with lace details, gloves, a veil, and a headpiece. The groom is dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt, bow tie, and a floral boutonniere. They are holding hands, and there are decorative vases with flowers and an ornate backdrop in the background.

Parents

A black-and-white photograph of a soldier standing outdoors with two children, one boy and one girl, in front of a house with a tile roof, window, and door. The scene appears to be from an earlier time period, possibly wartime.

Uncle's return from World War 1 and little Ernö with his sister

Black and white vintage photograph of a young man dressed in a suit with a bow tie, sitting with one hand resting on his lap and the other on his knee, looking at the camera.

Ernö’s first suit

Black and white photo of a band with nine members holding musical instruments, including a double bass, violin, trombone, and clarinet, in a room with a plain wall background.

May 1933. The last music performance at the uncle's inn
Then it was time to go out into the world!

A vintage black-and-white group photo featuring a man, a woman, four girls, and a boy, posed outdoors with trees in the background. The man and woman are at the center, with the children around them, some holding hats and flowers.

Ernö’s grandparents and their four daughters. Ernö’s mother is the first on the right

A vintage photograph of eleven people, six men, three women, and two children, gathered around a table outdoors in front of a building with an open window. Some men are holding musical instruments, such as violins, and there are bottles and glasses on the table, indicating a social gathering or celebration.

Ernö’s christening (1913), celebration with a Roma band

A historic small-town street scene in black and white, featuring a row of old buildings, including the Hotel Iron. The street appears quiet with only a few bicycles parked, and trees are lining the sidewalk under a partly cloudy sky.

Štúrovo Inn, where Ernö used to play

Old black and white photo of a family standing outside a building, with five people, including two men, one woman, one girl, and one boy, dressed in vintage clothing from the mid-20th century. The woman and girl are wearing headscarves, and the boy is holding a guitar case.

The band consisted of Adler Endre (violin), Halász Miška (accordion), and Ernö (piano). In summer, they played in the garden café of the Dunaj Hotel (the former Zahovay Hotel)

Black and white portrait of a young man with slicked-back hair, wearing a suit and tie, vintage style photograph

Ernö’s portrait, 1943

Black and white photo of six people, five standing and one sitting in front. They are outside near a wall, smiling and posing for the picture.

In front of the Zahovay Hotel with its owner, Uncle Fero

On the way to beloved Kovacspatak (1933)

A black and white photograph of a man sitting on a stone ledge with a sculpture of a woman behind him, set in a garden with trees and a stone fence.

In Piešťany during their honeymoon. Cupid had already done his work

A man with light-colored, spiky hair and glasses stands outdoors beside a rustic shed, with a landscape of hills and sparse vegetation in the background.

In the garden near Bajtava, a view that never gets old

A black and white photo of a marching band playing musical instruments outdoors, including children and adults, with a building, trees, and a lamppost in the background.

The band with shiny instruments that enchanted Ernö at the age of 4, when he wandered away from home

Black and white photo of a group of people sitting at a table during a meeting or social event. Four men are seated, with bottles of beer in front of them, and a woman is standing and talking to two women seated at the table. The setting appears to be indoors.

The after-party following Ernö’s author’s evening

Black and white photo of a man working on a woodworking project outdoors in a backyard, with a small wooden house or shed in the background and some trees and fencing around.

He always loved the Danube. He found the plans in the hobby magazine Ezermester and built a boat. He also bought a small Tümmler engine, and together with his family, he sailed along the Danube and its small islands, all the way to the point where the river turns toward Hungary

A black-and-white family portrait showing nine people gathered around a table with a embroidered tablecloth. Four women, three men, and two children are present, with some seated and others standing behind. The scene has a plain backdrop with painted scenery.

Family photo in a photographic studio, Ernö with his aunt on the right, mother with his sister on the left

Black and white portrait of a young man with neatly combed hair, wearing a button-up shirt with pockets, outdoors with trees and sky in the background.

Ernö in Gieboldehausen, Germany, towards the end of the war. He was lucky that, as a pianist, he was a favourite among the officers

Black and white photo of three people sitting on a blanket outdoors. One woman is reading a book, a young girl with short hair and a polka dot dress is sitting on the blanket, and an older man with glasses is sitting behind her. They are surrounded by trees.

A trip photographed with a self-timer. Ernö loved technological innovations. He also owned a camera and a projector. On Sundays, the family would watch films together after lunch

Two men in suits sitting at a table in a restaurant or cafe, with one playing an accordion and the other looking at his keyboard or piano, in a black-and-white photo.

In the café of the Dunaj Hotel

A black and white photo of a man playing the flute, a man playing the accordion, and a man sitting at a piano in a room with a wood-paneled wall and a hanging light fixture.

Black and white vintage photo of a young man with a neatly combed hairstyle, dressed in a tuxedo, looking down and to the side.

1943

Black and white portrait of a young man with neatly combed hair, wearing a collared shirt and tie.

1938

A vintage black and white photo of a band performing on stage with Christmas decorations, including snowflakes and candy cane patterns, in the background. The band features a pianist, a singer, a drummer, a guitarist, a saxophonist, an accordion player, and a group of women singing.

One of Ernö’s author evenings at the Štúrovo (Párkány) cultural centre (1974)

Black and white photo of an elderly man with white hair wearing glasses, a suit, dress shirt, and tie.

This is how I remember my father, his daughter Agi. This photo was taken by a journalist. Ernö is wearing a terylene suit and has just moved into an apartment block with his family (1974)

An elderly man with glasses reading a newspaper in a room with bookshelves and patterned wallpaper.

Ernö would rather have chosen the side of the Little Dog than the regime

Two black-and-white photographs on a torn page of a scrapbook or photo album. The left photo shows a person wearing a coat and holding something, standing on a field with a person in the background. The right photo depicts two people walking on a dirt road beside a tree, engaged in conversation.

A date with his wife. A few years later their two children were born

An elderly man dressed in a tuxedo with a bow tie, sitting on a chair, writing on a piece of paper or a card, with glasses and receding hair, in a room with a window and a beige bag on a chair.

Ernö signing autographs after an author’s evening. It was the last author’s evening of his life (1990)

Three elderly people sitting at a dinner table with drinks and food, dressed in formal attire, indoors with beige walls and a black metal staircase in the background.

Reception hosted by the mayor at the Municipal Office in Štúrovo (Párkány) on the occasion of receiving the Pro Urbe Award (1984)

An elderly man with glasses, wearing a beige vest, white shirt, and gray pants, sitting on an orange armchair, holding a glass of dark liquid, in a room with a wooden cabinet filled with various figurines and decorative items.

80th birthday, cheers!
After this celebration, there were still five final years to come.

A black-and-white photo of a man and woman standing outdoors near a body of water, with trees and hills in the background. They are smiling and looking at each other, with the man embracing the woman.

A black-and-white photo of a man and woman standing on a grassy roadside near trees and bushes, facing each other.

Photos taken with a self-timer. Ernö loved technological innovations and the new inventions of his time

A young man standing outside near a bicycle in front of a building with a window and a partially open shutter.

Hard times came. Ernö received his draft notice for the front

A man in a light-colored suit and dark tie, standing outside near a building with barred windows, holding a cigarette.

In captivity in Gieboldehausen, Germany. However, thanks to the fact that Ernö was a talented pianist, he was able to entertain the officers (his suit was made from a bed sheet)

A man with slicked-back hair wearing a vest over a collared shirt, sitting on a rock or large stump in an open grassy field with hills in the background.

Ernö in Kovácspatak, where he loved to go

Two women in vintage clothing sitting on a bench by a body of water, engaged in conversation.

Favourite family trips. At first, just Ernö and his wife, later joined by their son and daughter, Agi

Three men in suits sitting on a carnival ride or amusement park ride, smiling and looking to the right.

“Posers” on the bombed bridge between Párkány (Štúrovo) and Esztergom. The first is his friend, lyricist J. Hoffbauer, the second is Ernö, and the third is his excellent accordion player M. Halász

Black and white photo of a man and woman in historical clothing standing outdoors, the woman looking at the man while he looks into the distance.

Winter idyll

Ernö Zahovay’s Band, Nový Smokovec, “Hotel Park” (1937–1938)

Ernö (Ernest) Zahovay (1913 - 1998) was a Hungarian composer and pianist, living in Štúrovo (Párkány), Slovakia. He devoted himself to music from childhood, possessed an extraordinary musical ear, and at a young age was already able to play compositions on several instruments after hearing them only once. His professional career began in the 1930s, when he became one of the first professional popular music composers in the territory of present-day Slovakia and Hungary.

After an initial period with the mandolin, banjo, and guitar, he devoted himself fully to the piano, which became the instrument of his entire life. He was active in both Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and even during the war, despite the difficult circumstances, he continued his musical career and activities. Several of his pieces were recorded and broadcast by the radio stations in Bratislava (Pozsony) and Košice (Kassa).

He left behind approximately 500 songs, some of which he wrote the lyrics from himself. His creative output mainly included tangos, English waltzes, marches, chansons, and swing as well as dance songs reflecting swing and Latin American musical influences. Thanks to his melodic inventiveness and his ability to respond to the musical trends of his time, he is considered one of the significant figures in the musical history of the region.

Black and white photograph of a young man wearing a flat cap and a coat, with a serious expression, against a dark background.

12-year-old Ernö

A black-and-white portrait of a family with a man, woman, and a young girl, dressed in early 20th-century clothing, posed indoors with curtains and a potted plant in the background.

Little Ernö with his parents

A black-and-white photo of a man sitting on a patterned upholstered armchair, playing an acoustic guitar. He is dressed in a dark suit and light shirt, with crossed legs and high heels. The room appears to be a vintage living room with another similar armchair, carpet, and a wooden cabinet in the background.

In the late 1960s, when things with his family became more serious, Ernö ended his “wandering life as a musician” and began teaching music

Two young men standing next to a large tree outdoors.

Two young men playing trumpets outdoors near bushes.

The 1930s marked the period of the first successes of his own band

significant periods

1930

At the age of seventeen, he visited a music publishing house in Budapest, where he presented one of his own compositions to professional publishers for the first time. This courageous step marked the beginning of his career as a composer.

1938 - 1943

With his compositions, he regularly won awards in nationwide music competitions and became one of the successful popular music composers of his time. In 1938, Zahovay became the local representative of the Association of Hungarian Authors and soon afterwards also a member of the Prague Authors’ Copyright Protection Association.

1950s

He composed a sports theme that was used for several years on Czechoslovak Television as the opening theme for sports broadcasts and became widely known to the general public.

1970s

Czechoslovak Radio preserved more than 30 of his compositions in its archive, ensuring that his musical legacy would remain accessible to future generations of listeners.

Official document in Slovak language, dated March 28, 1975, with signatures and official stamps, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet army.

Black and white photograph of a man with glasses playing a piano in a room with several seated and standing people, possibly at a social event or gathering.

1986

Throughout his life, he composed more than 500 songs, some with his own lyrics, as well as several operettas and other works. In recognition of his lifelong contribution to the city’s cultural and social life, he received the Pro Urbe Award, presented by the mayor in honor of exceptional achievements.

archive

A turning point in Ernö Zahovay’s early composing career came in 1939. Together with his friend László Brosch, he created the student operetta Azt álmodtam... (I Dreamed...), which was performed to great success in Štúrovo and Nové Zámky. Zahovay submitted the title song, for which he wrote both the music and lyrics, to a prestigious composition competition in Budapest, where it was awarded a Gold Diploma. This achievement brought him nationwide recognition and prompted the renowned Budapest music publishing house Magyar Zenealbum to officially publish the printed sheet music of the composition that same year.

A handwritten sheet of musical notation with lyrics, annotations, and chords on a beige paper background.

Among Ernö Zahovay’s most celebrated compositions were Bár sohase volna tavasz and Mesélek magának, works that embodied the elegant, café-inspired, and melancholic musical style that flourished during the interwar period. The sheet music for these pieces was published by the distinguished Budapest publishing house Toborzó and distributed as individual editions. The preserved copies testify to the exceptional professional quality of Zahovay’s compositions and their successful reach among audiences before the outbreak of the Second World War.

A vintage Hungarian program or pamphlet with red printed text on cream paper and a decorative floral motif in the bottom right corner.

A vintage printed program or script in Hungarian, featuring a black-and-white portrait of a young man in the top left corner and a list of musical pieces and performances on the right side.

The original programme booklet from The Ernö Zahovay’s Author Evening, held in Štúrovo in 1966 under the auspices of Csemadok, contains a portrait photograph of the composer, his introduction, and the complete programme of the event. The programme included a performance by his daughter, Ági Zahovayová, who presented his composition Reggel a táborban. The booklet represents a valuable testimony to Ernö Zahovay’s artistic work and the continuation of the musical tradition within his family.

A vintage Hungarian publication listing books and publications with their authors and prices, featuring a simple black and white text layout on tan paper.

Close-up of a vintage Hungarian banknote featuring a graphic design with musical instruments, floral patterns, and Hungarian text. The text includes the names Kutak László and Zahovay Ernő.

A vintage Hungarian sheet music page from 1937 with musical notation and lyrics in Hungarian, featuring handwritten annotations and signatures.

The sheet music for the tango Hozzád szól e vallomás is among the most valuable surviving documents of Ernö Zahovay’s work. Its printing in Prague and the use of the Kč currency clearly date it to the period before autumn 1938, when Štúrovo was still part of the First Czechoslovak Republic. On the reverse side, the publisher promotes its most successful hits, listing Ernö as number 6 among prominent Slovak-Hungarian and Budapest composers of popular music.

A vintage poster with large stylized letters reading 'Hú! a falevél!' and various handwritten notes in Hungarian about a music album and concert, including contact information and location details in Budapest.

A vintage musical score titled "Hull a Falevel" with handwritten notes, annotations, and markings, including notes about the music, signatures, and copyright information from 1940.

A sheet of handwritten musical notation, with lyrics in Hungarian, featuring multiple staves, musical notes, and annotations, on aged paper.

After his success in Budapest, Ernö Zahovay’s composing career continued to flourish in the following year. In 1940, the publishing house Magyar Zenealbum released his English waltz for piano Hull a falevél... (Falling Leaves...). The surviving copies of the sheet music also contain handwritten performance notes made during live café performances. This edition represents a symbolic conclusion to Zahovay’s successful pre-war period, when he was recognized as a respected composer of popular music in both Bratislava and Budapest.

A comic-style illustration on a green background depicting a man and a woman in period clothing, with the woman holding a rolling pin. The text in the image is in Polish, with some words like "Valse" and names such as "Ernest Zachovy" and "Ondrej Marek." The illustration also features a banner with the words "Rumba" and "Tra" amid other stylized text.

A vintage sheet of music and lyrics in a language other than English, titled "Jarná rozprávka (Valse)." The sheet includes handwritten musical notation, lyrics, and song credits, with copyright info at the bottom.

Stylized yellow and white poster with hand-drawn illustrations of people, flowers, and text promoting the Jarma Murcukka music event in Mumbai, India, featuring Hudba Ernst Zachovay and Ondrej Marek.

A scanned page of sheet music titled 'Tropické Leto (Rumba)' with musical notes, lyrics in Slovak, and copyright information at the bottom.

The sheet music booklet contains the compositions Jarná rozprávka (waltz) and Tropické leto (rumba), linking Ernö Zahovay’s musical work with the visual art of academic painter Július Barta, a family friend of the composer. The signature “BARTA” in the lower right corner of the cover confirms the authorship of the title illustration, making this edition a unique regional artefact.

Based on the style of the handwriting, chord notation, and musical script, the booklet can be dated to the post-war period, approximately between 1946 and 1949. After joining the Slovak Authors Association, Ernö Zahovay carefully prepared the musical parts by hand, which were then reproduced through small-scale duplication for use by his ensemble.

An additional noteworthy detail is the text accompanying the waltz Rád bych ukojit srdce své, which reflects the characteristic lyrics blend Slovak and Czech Together with the elegant salon-style arrangement they capture the typical post-war café music. This combination contributes to the piece’s distinctive atmosphere and captures the spirit of post war café the music.

The original 1940 printed sheet music for the 1940 song Üzenek… documents another major milestone in Zahovay’s career. For this song. He wrote both the music and the lyrics, which won the prestigious fourth prize in a nationwide composition competition organized by Magyar Zenealbum in Budapest. The piece provides tangible evidence of his recognition as a composer and lyricist, as well as his creative success on the eve of World War II.

This detailed view of the complete title cover of the 1940 sheet music edition of the successful English waltz Hull a falevél from 1940, published by Magyar Zenealbum in Budapest, presents a complete Look at the artwork. The design, featuring falling autumn leaves and an elegant ribbon bearing the composer’s name, Ernö Zahovay, is a faithful example of the high-quality visual style characteristic of Budapest music publications of that period.

Katalin Karády (1910–1990) was one of Hungary’s most popular actresses and singers as well as a defining icon of the silver screen between 1939 and 1945. With her deep, captivating voice, enigmatic presence, and emancipated style—she was among the first Hungarian film actresses to wear trousers and appear on screen smoking a cigarette—she had a profound influence on the era’s image of feminine beauty.

She wrote this letter to Ernö at the height of her fame. However, only one year later, in 1944, following the arrival of German troops in Hungary, she was arrested by the Gestapo on suspicion of espionage and subjected to three months of brutal torture. Despite the extreme danger, she helped save dozens of Jewish children and families from persecution and death, reportedly bribing guards on the banks of the Danube with her own jewellery and providing refuge for people in her apartment. In recognition of these courageous acts, she was posthumously awarded Israel’s highest honour, the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Like Zahovay, Karády also found little acceptance from the new communist regime after the war. Her films were banned, and in 1951 she emigrated to the United States.

A handwritten sheet of music with notes, chords, and annotations on grid paper. The top of the sheet has some text written in cursive and the word 'Good' is visible.

Handwritten sheet of music notes and chords on graph paper, with annotations and markings in black ink.

Handwritten sheet music for a piece titled "Nerebar" with musical notes and annotations on grid paper.

Handwritten musical score on graph paper, featuring musical notes, symbols, and annotations in blue ink.

A handwritten sheet of music with musical notes and notation in blue ink on beige paper, titled "Klubanie Zamy".

A handwritten sheet of music notes on aged paper, with visible tears and stains.

The Golden and Diamond diploma from 1940 and 1942 is a rare testament to the extraordinary musical talent of Ernö Zahovay (1913 - 1998), a distinguished composer, pianist, and founder of dance orchestras. He received this award at a nationwide poetry and music competition in Budapest in recognition of his outstanding artistic achievement. Taking place during a period of profound social change and shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, this distinction represented significant acknowledgment of his talent, which had already earned recognition far beyond his home region.

Public concert of the popular Slovak singer Melánia Olláriová. Ernö is listed as the composer.

Ernö's membership card of the Czechoslovak Authors’ Union from 1951.

The postcard dates from 1944 and was sent home by Ernö while in a military hospital in Landshut.

Poster for Dva majálesy.

1939: Ernö Zahovay’s First Operetta in Nové Zámky
This rare program brochure from April 15, 1939, documents the birth of Zahovay’s very first operetta, titled “Azt álmodtam…”. The young composer demonstrated an extraordinary sense for contemporary global music trends, composing tracks in the rhythm of tango, blues and foxtrot. His exceptional talent is further highlighted by the fact that the title song won a prestigious award at a national songwriting competition in Budapest.
This document also captures a vivid picture of local town life at the time. The advertisements printed on every page were placed by local merchants who financially supported the young artists.

Wreath-laying ceremony at Ernö Zahovay’s commemorative plaque

In this downloadable book you will discover forty years of Ernö Zahovay’s life at the piano. The narrative traces his journey from first performances with a band in Štúrovo, through his years playing in cafés and bars throughout Slovakia - including Trnava, Prešov, Želiezovce, Krupina, Dobšiná, the High Tatras and other places - to his wartime captivity, and his post-war years of composing and performing. The book features personal memories, stories from the world of cafés and tango, and the names of the musicians he encountered along the way. The foreword was written by Rudolf Chmel, a prominent writer and former Slovak Ambassador to Hungary.

Štúrovo Music Days – Memorial gala concert dedicated to Ernö Zahovay (full concert)

Created by Ernö Zahovay’s daughter, Agi Ferienčíková.

I remember you with love, Father.