Háromszéki Szotyori Nagy család debreceni ága

Abstract

Only a few people know the activities of the Szotyori Nagy family, most people only remember that there used to be a Szotyori settlement in Debrecen (today it is part of the Hatvan Street garden). The oldest member of the family from Transylvania, who arrived to Debrecen, was the first cantor organist of the Great Church of Debrecen, and the first organ of the Great Church was inaugurated with his help. His elder son took over his father’s job as a cantor organist of the Great Church. Besides that, he also taught at the Reformed College in Debrecen and composed music. He also learned organ building during his study trips abroad, so he was asked to be an expert in building several church organs in the country. The city’s first music conservatory was also named after him. The members of the family even included a renowned doctor of the city of Debrecen, an inventor, a notary public, a composer, a Catholic priest, an organist and a music teacher. Several family members wrote and edited music publications. The graves of several deceased family members can still be found in the Public Cemetery, and the descendants of one branch of the family still live in Debrecen.