Hungarian concert pianist, writer
(and photographer).
A unique and rare glimpse at Budapest as seen through the lens of the Hungarian concert pianist and writer, György Sándor (1912 – 2005). In the classical world, Sándor was up there. He recorded piano works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Schumann amongst others; he toured the world, playing at New York’s Carnegie Hall and was friends with, and mentored by the legendary composer Béla Bartók; he married the divorced wife of the Archduke Karl Pius of Austria, Prince of Tuscany: and he wrote a book, “On Piano Playing: Motion, Sound, Expression”.
Sándor was apparently a keen amateur photographer. The Fővárosi Szabó Ervin Library in Budapest recently found and donated 500 previously unseen photographs to a Hungarian public archive for found photography. Captured in and around Budapest, these images date from the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 to 1959. He covered funerals, shows us bullet ridden buildings and the nation’s capital rebuilding, getting back on it’s feet once more.
Resurrection. Sándor recognised a grand theme playing out when he saw one.
Sándor was once asked what differentiates a great work. “The time is the factor.” Explained Sándor,” The difference between popular music and what we call “classical music” is not that one is better, not at all! Popular music lasts much, much less time! You need change. Every few months or every few weeks or every year, you have to have a new melody. The melody or the handling of the music is not the same as what we call “classical music,” where every note is important. Popular music is mostly improvisatory. Classical music is improvisatory too, but within certain limitations. The structure of the music is very clear, and within that you can change your moods.”
He seems to have taken this approach, this philosophy, and applied it to his personal photography. Take your time. Listen to the his images.
After all, as György says, “every note is important.”
This is Volume Number Two. Volume Number One is here.
Credits : Fortepan / FSZEK Budapest Gyűjtemény / Sándor György. Interview with György Sándor by Bruce Duffie, February, 1990, Wikipedia.
Undated stereo photograph, c. 1958.
Technical School of Bilingual Languages). 1958.
Teams of volunteer firefighters practice before a show. 1958.
the workshop of shoemaker István Gyenes. c. 1958.
and the Ferdinánd (Edge Worker) bridge exit. c. 1958.
Infrared hair dryer cover, invention of Miklós Glavina. 1959.
opposite the Technical University, Gellért Hill in the background, 1960.
This is Volume Number Two.