Today, 2 November, is the birthday of the late and much-missed Hungarian pianist György Sebök (1922-99).
Sebök was a distinguished pianist, but to his students and those who listened to his classes he will always be remembered primarily as a superlative teacher. I only played for him in summer courses here and there, and was never one of his regular students, but even so his lessons had a great impact on me.
What I particularly liked was that he spoke about things – musical things, psychological and philosophical things – which most music teachers don’t attempt to speak of because they are difficult to put into words.
I’ve written about Sebök in at least two of my books – in Beyond the Notes, p.132-39, and at greater length in Speaking the Piano where a whole chapter, ‘Beethoven among the Alpine Flowers’, is devoted to my recollections of Sebök’s summer courses in Ernen, Switzerland.
Today, in his memory, I’ve been looking at some old YouTube videos of him teaching. Here’s one I have watched many times, where he discusses a Haydn sonata with a very talented Dutch pianist (unfortunately her name is not given) in The Hague in 1987. It gives a good idea of Sebök’s manner when teaching – watchful, intent, outwardly undramatic. He speaks calmly and in measured tones about the essence of music, making no attempt to raise his voice for the benefit of the audience.
Yes, there is something patriarchal about the situation which makes the video seem a tiny bit old-fashioned, but there is nothing outdated about the advice Sebök is giving this young musician. She probably still remembers the lesson as a moment of deep musical exploration and discovery.
Hi Susan!
Thank you for sharing this with us . I have looked at the video and it’s fascinating! Apparently the student is Ellen Corver now a principal study piano professor at The Hague conservatoire and a pianist. How wonderful to hear this .
Thank you Orla! Sometimes you must tell me how you discovered the identity of the pianist, which I didn’t manage to find.
Susan,
Ah- re the student pianist in question: there are comments below a lot of the YouTube videos and someone there gave her name as they had studied with her.
Dear Susan:
What is the exquisite piece the student is playing in this lesson with György Sebök? I would love to learn it–depending on the level of difficulty, of course!
Hallo Nan, the piece the student is playing in this lesson is the slow movement of Haydn’s Sonata in C major, Hob.XVI:50. A great piece to learn!
I found your reminiscences of Sebok in your book ‘Speaking the Piano’ very inspiring. What a rare gift it is to be a great teacher. I only encountered two in my entire educational career, but it was worth the wait.
I remember Sebök saying that he tried to ’empty himself’ before someone started playing to him, so that he could respond without preconceptions. He described the feeling of ‘opening a channel’ at the back of his neck – I recall him touching the place on his neck with his hand to show us the ‘channel’ between his head and his spine. I’ve tried it myself, though without being quite sure that I knew what he meant!
Intriguing. My brother is keen on the Alexander technique, which I can’t quite understand, but I think sometimes in these cases belief itself can have its own powerful effects.
Miss him.