Hungarian musicologist, teacher and composer. He studied theology and law, and the piano, horn, and music theory at the conservatory in Kolozsvar. In 1851 he settled in Pest as a teacher and concert pianist, and began to work as a musicologist and journalist. With Mátray, Bartalus was the founder of Hungarian musicology. His extensive collection of Hungarian folksongs provided the basis for the work of Bartók and Kodály.
Source: Ferenc Bónis: Istvŕn Bartalus quoted from Grove Music Online accessed 17 January 2010, Complete article (requires subscription).