Seymour: An Introduction

[GaryProtein]

Yesterday, September 27, we saw the United States premier of Seymour: An Introduction at the New York Film Festival at the Walter Reade Cinema in Lincoln Center, NYC. The world premier was at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10, 2014

It was a fascinating and inspiring film about the life of the concert pianist and teacher, Seymour Bernstein, directed by Ethan Hawke. Seymour Bernstein is a world renowned pianist and teacher (now 87 years old) who retired from performing at the age of 50 because he disliked performing and enjoyed teaching. He continues to teach to this day. Following the film, he and director, Ethan Hawke had a question and answer period where he spoke about his philosophy of music and musical education and his unabashed opinions about a couple of concert pianists.

In the IMDB, the screen writer is listed as "anonymous" but during the post screening Q and A, Ethan Hawke stated that the entire film was unscripted and in fact, there was no dialog when the camera was not running to ensure that everything that was spoken was captured for the film.

This film was absolutely superb and greatly surpassed the expectations I had at the time I purchased the tickets three weeks ago. This film will not be shown in run of the mill theaters. Expect it to be shown in the "arts" theaters. If you love music and the minds of the teachers, you must see this film.


Here is a professional review: http://blogcritics.org/new-york-film-festival-ethan-hawkes-seymour-an-introduction/


The New York Times article

“Seymour Bernstein Triumphs at the Piano”

​

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Seymour Bernstein was already teaching piano at the age of fifteen, his teacher at the time, Clara Husserl, having arranged for him to supervise the practicing of some of her gifted younger pupils. He soon had a class of pupils of his own, some of whom are still studying with him. He achieved local fame quite early as a performer, winning the Griffith Artist Award at the age of seventeen. Inducted into the army during the Korean War, he gave concerts on the front lines and for top military leaders. During this experience, he came to understand that he possessed a missionary zeal, a desire to bring music’s message to a wider audience. A concert career that took him to Asia, Europe, and throughout the Americas brought this goal to fruition, as have his books With Your Own Two Hands and 20 Lessons in Keyboard Choreography, which have been published in German, Japanese, Korean, and Russian.

Seymour Bernstein studied with such notable musicians as Alexander Brailowsky, Sir Clifford Curzon, Jan Gorbaty, Nadia Boulanger, and Georges Enesco. In 1969 he made his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, playing the world premiere of Concerto No. 2 by Villa-Lobos. The winner of the First Prize and Prix Jacques Durand at Fontainebleau, the National Federation of Music Clubs Award for Furthering American Music Abroad, a Beebe Foundation grant, two Martha Baird Rockefeller grants, and four State Department grants, he made a point of offering master classes and lecture recitals wherever his concert tours took him. When grant money allowed, he filled his suitcases with scores to distribute to teachers and students. Two new books, Monsters and Angels: Surviving a Career in Music and Chopin: Interpreting His Notational Symbols, have recently been published by Manduca Music Publications.One of the most sought-after clinicians in this country and abroad, Mr. Bernstein is also a prolific composer, with many works on the best-seller list. His compositions range from teaching material for students of all levels to the most sophisticated concert pieces. He continues to perform as a guest artist with chamber ensembles and serves regularly on the juries of a number of international competitions. He maintains a private studio in New York City and is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Music and Music Education at New York University. On December 18, 2004, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Shenandoah University.