He graduated from the Budapest Music Academy in 1966. After two years of post-graduate studies in Rome, he took part in the creation of the New Music Studio: a composers' and performers' workshop radically aiming at the new. They followed the international contemporary music trends practically as they surfaced. Jeney worked with the Studio for more than twenty years.

Besides the lasting results of avante-garde of the 1970s and 80s, his ouvre incorporates a strengthening classical approach starting from the 1990s and a modern approach to national traditions.

This is the first comprehensive study of his work, complete with a catalogue of his compositions, a selected bibliography and a discography.