Gyorgy Sebok - Bach-Busoni - Adagio from BWV 564

Gyorgy Sebok talks about war, emotions/feelings during war and plays the Busoni transcription of the well known Adagio from BWV 564.

[@getrealbutthead]

I had the privilege of playing in Sebok's master classes while I was a student at I.U. This video shows what a wonderful man, musician, and teacher he was. I remember and appreciate everything I learned from him. I can only hope I might become the person he was.

[@perfectblue8443]

thank you for your testimony. It is amazing how closely your own memories and impressions reflect what is shown in this very documentary. I saw it more than 20 years ago, and I still remember the warmth, the simplicity and wisdom this man conveyed. I wish I had had such a mentor, because such people can make a better person out of one.

[@joemiller95]

I used to go to his masterclasses quite often and watch him interacting with students right in front of me. Often we were less than ten feet away from him. I remember a student once played this, I thought incredibly well, as I'd only ever heard it for organ prior to that. Gyorgy spoke to him afterwards, making suggestions, the student responded, playing even better, this went on for a while, and then Gyorgy, atypically, played it himself. As you can tell from the video here he really had this piece understood and worked out, but I had never heard him actually play anything extended until then, I just knew him as this nice guy I'd sometimes have conversations with in the hallways or in his room prior to the masterclasses. The effect of this kind of playing in a small studio in the late evening, on the group of us, was so powerful, I thought God had come into the room. I'm not religious, but it was like this video, except it was completely unexpected that this friendly little guy could just sit down and make this kind of deep, transcendent experience happen. This really is a perfect piece for a funeral, but it would have to played by Gyorgy or someone playing at this level.

[@wernerstroobants6582]

❤

[@allegrissimo]

He was one of the very greatest pedagogues in the world. His psychologic approach and his firm belief in naturalness in performing got the most out of the students.

[@weezeedee]

heartbreaking in the best sense of the world. To have the strength to access one's emotions by playing in this way is one that few musicians, survivors of war or not, can achieve.

[@HelgeAntoni]

Deeply moving!

[@jcherrie78]

I watch this at the end of each day .

[@dottorbaroquefolia]

Meravigliosa profondita'. Sempre una grande commozione

[@Emma22808]

what a beautiful human being and musician.

[@DorianLS]

I am as moved by the beauty of the man as by the beauty of his playing. If there is more, please post.

[@jsnauwaert]

Bach... infinity...universality...heaven

[@kims0730]

Music has such power to move heart of people without words and this video has moved me numerous times. Timeless piece, timeless playing.

[@justwarren]

He is beyond eloquent in both his words and his music. Exquisite.

[@horatiodreamt]

Thank you for posting this. I heard Sebok in recital in Chicago in 1975. My piano teacher at the time was working on her DMA degree at Indiana University. She had studied with Sebok there and invited him to give a recital at the college where my teacher taught in Chicago. He played some Bartok and Liszt. His performance of the Liszt Sonata and Liszt's Weinen, Klagen transcription were quite lovely and memorable.

[@cygnusne]

Simply Sublime!!

[@guitarveggie]

That was an extremely lovely piece of music. It ripped my freakin' heart out.

[@rowley555]

This gives me so much hope.

[@hyramesshiramess1035]

A great master!

[@von2Braun]

I think I record on a USB-Stick György Sebök´s interpretation of the Intermezzo and put it into the envelope with my testament to be played at my funeral. This interpretation is beyond this world and enters a world of beauty and peace.

[@slippazzz]

I shiver when I hear him play the adagio.

[@TheDrptackett]

When I was an undergraduate student, Sebok came to play a recital at my college. We had a Baldwin. He asked me if the piano had been tuned. I said yes, but I would have it retuned. "Would it be the same tuner?" "Yes." "I doubt if it would help. "Is a Steinway available?" "I'm sorry. No." "It is much easier to get a good tone from a Steinway. Too bad." In two years, there was a Steinway.

[@Rephrat]

a titan !! plays music of the greatest TITAN !!

[@nicolasvanpoucke.pianist]

What a document. So much wisdom and beauty.

[@rafikbaladi6555]

Thank you dear Mr. Sebok for your immaculate connection with the content (spirit) of this Busoni transcriprion of the master's Adagio from BWV564

[@user-ji3yw9sm1d]

simply divine

[@michavandam]

György Sebők (November 2, 1922 - November 14, 1999) was a Hungarian-born American pianist.

[@ric55]

I remember how impressed I was as a piano student by Sebok's accompaniment to Starker's cello sonatas of Brahms.A real pianist in a world now filled with caricatures.Many thanks for this post.

[@madalinadanila_piano]

Great artist!!

[@lluisemili]

Ploro d'emoció de sentir la seva interpretació! gràcies

[@1jourviendra]

Thank you so much for posting it! More please!

[@MrArrpee]

awesome!!!

[@rosepiano1]

MAGNIFIQUE !!!

[@pr6pr6]

plus j'écoute mozart, plus j'aime Bach! la simplicité qui va à l'essentiel.

[@knd1940]

In Jeremy Denk's fascinating memoire, Every Good Boy Does Fine, he writes about studying with Sebok: "He kept alternating between spirit guide and physics teacher, trying to bridge the gap between boring technical detail and the mysteries of the universe."

[@justinsmith2530]

I loved that book.

[@jurr47]

At last, I found the number of this piece. I had a tape recorded from the radio since about 24 years ago. Incredible , considering that Bach composed it for organ. Most of his works sound better on the piano. And by the way, this a very good performance, maybe the best I found on youtube. (At least for my ears). Slow tempo, that's the way.

[@FxFvD]

true sound culture

[@WelcomeToZomboCom]

Busoni is awesome, check out his Piano Concerto

[@Tashmere]

I would like to know more about Gyorgy Sebok. Is there anywhere I can learn more of his story? This was touching.

[@jbondy6395]

I am reading Jeremy Denk's new book, "Every Good Boy Does Fine", and he describes classes with Sebok. Fascinating!

[@jbondy6395]

@@knd1940 Darn auto spell check!

[@jbondy6395]

@@knd1940 Done, thanks!

[@ele323]

the mystery of life... suddenly resolved..

[@hobanfan]

Everything comes together here...delightful person, great performance, spendid video

[@user-ji3yw9sm1d]

and I agree with calamaistr bach is so perfect no comparison with any other composer

[@rodolfo0506]

It is painful to know this human Greatness when one is engulfed by so much barbarian modern mobs. Here I got some glimpses of the Greatness of being a human, but now as a very rare accident

[@cubanbach]

oh boy...all I can do is sigh after those words, my friend, JSNAUWAERT

[@MichaelThallium]

Who can tell me where to find the rest of the documentary. It's great!!

[@smnhsk]

This is not necessarily Busoni version. His own transcription, I would say, so beautiful.

[@eleonoraefimov4534]

2:05 Bach-Busoni - Adagio from BWV 564

[@pianomaly9859]

Wonderful. Old School playing.......the tone is kneaded, not struck from the piano. The piece is played as a long, arching aria.

[@pyroprince78]

@amirmot thank you so much. i will check it out. :)

[@twotea22]

@von2Braun ... it's absolutely the same feeling i had when i saw/heard it while i recorded it from tv. So, if you do, i advise you to add Fischer's interpretation of the Bach transcription of Marcello's Adagio from Concerto in D minor ;-) ... anyway all Fischer's recordings are a source of inspiration

[@ReneNikolaou]

@Calamaistr Βach is the only proof to me for God's existence, it's not just a mathematical expression, it's the expression of the whole universe that lives inside us and his music express those feelings which of course we can't name them because we thing that human and God is separated......

[@Calamaistr]

i think i resonded to this video before, its in my favorites.. but truly.. bach is so perfect. Nothing in this world.. not even mozart, not brahms, not fauré not rachmaninov not tsaikovski noone noone noone can get close to it.

[@gothicrecital]

@habib9 Thank you for this comment!

[@marcinmain]

It is a prelude from Bachs Das Wohltemperiertes Klavier, Book 1. The one in E major.

[@cellocelli4114]

Did anyone see the fly crawling on him?

[@Calamaistr]

@TommyDai1 no sorry chopin made romantic music, music inspired by strong emotions. Bach is mathematical perfection.

[@npanarooptonlinenet]

@twotea22 where can i find this in a godd qaulity recording (fischers interp)

[@pyroprince78]

@amirmot I'm very curious. Could you possibly share what he said?

[@Roqjose]

What is the name of the piece that he plays at 1:20? Thanks.

[@panos3051]

Prelude no.9 from Bach’s Well-tempered Clavier vol.1.

[@npanarooptonlinenet]

@twotea22

[@TommyDai1]

@Calamaistr two words, Frederyk CHOPIN

[@TommyDai1]

@Calamaistr LOL fool of myself?? OK Robot boy

[@Perkeno]

Maybe you are Lang Lang reincarnated :-))

[@TommyDai1]

no sorry romantic music is inspired by nationalism, ALL music is inspired by strong emotions, its an artistic expresion, and bach is one of the most emotional composers. is you want mathematical perfection buy a calculator, and leave music for people with feelings

[@goldberg72]

questi sono i grandi!not madonna etc

[@TommyDai1]

@Calamaistr im sorry but then you dont understand a thing about music

[@jcharwag]

Kann nicht besser ... oder vorgestellt ... sein.

[@MegaPianogenius]

nothing to do with the war, most people with sensibilities would be moved by the music of bach and others

[@barbarab.361]

for him it was more, he was not only moved, but this music was helping to find his world of emotions again .. I love this small film ... his interpretation is so honest and helpful

[@enamitv]

that fly/wasp is really distracting!