Leber László

pianist and composer

Hungary

Author

About

When I was 6, I was enrolled in a music school. In that time, it was difficult to get into piano class, only a few children had the opportunity. So I ended up on the flute. After 3 years, I left the conservatorie, and joined to Tűzvirág dance group. I was a dancer for 10 years. In 2014 I decided to get closer to the music again. I started to play the piano and composing own pieces.

Sheets

Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

This question has already been asked by many. Usually the first statement is that one would not know to live without it. Music is a good thing, like poems, short stories or novels. It expresses feelings or tells a story. Perhaps these are it's greatest strengths, because it's emotions and events affect everyone. We can easily feel it or get into it, we can live ourselves in a variety of situations. The music brings back my feelings my thoughts, my actions and it even entertains.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

Yes and no. Yes, because as I've written before the same music could bring different meanings for each person. It depends on the current person's fantasy. The interpretation of music can be different depending on age and personal experience. Fantasy is built on past experiences which was so real. So from this aspect it’s not only about fantasy.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

This question should be reversed in my case, because I’m not a professional musician. I’m a software engineer at Lufthansa Systems Hungaria. When I was 6, I was enrolled in a music school. In that time, it was so difficult to get into piano class, only a few children had the opportunity. So I ended up on the flute. After 3 years, I left the conservatorie, and joined to a local dancing goup. I was a dancer for 10 years. Music was always the part of my life, but in 2014 I decided to get closer to the music again when I was 25. I started to play the piano and a little later I also started to write own pieces.

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

I usually go to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music to listen to a concert. I also see many viewers of my age there. By the way it’s a natural process that I don’t think we should worry about. There are many concerts where young people measure their knowledge, there will always be those who carry on the tradition.

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

For listeners, there’s more music to hear than ever before–and it’s happening all over the world. My personal opinion that for certain generations everywhere in the world, music assumed a huge significance and now appears to be less important to the great mass of humanity, which makes me sad.

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

My answer for the previous question indicates, that nowadays you must be more creative because the wide range of music born every day. You must be unique and you need to produce something that is very different from the others. My role of creativity in the musical process is coming from the fact that I never wanted to copy anybody. I just let myself to produce the final form of the pieces without any intervention. Every people are unique, so their product could be unique as well, but you need to exclude the out-world when you’re composing.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

Havasi Balázs is my great role model. He does this very well. He combines the classical music with the modern and does a spectacular show at his concerts. I think it’s a very good method.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

In the evening, before I go to bed, I often hear complete music in my head. When I sit down at the piano, I usually improvise, trying to recall the music that sounded in my head. Parts of my pieces are not born at the same time. Sometimes it takes days or weeks for the parts to come together into a common piece. But somehow the parts always find themselves on their own :) My favorite piece is „Only hope“ or „Soaring time“. „Only hope“ is because it was my first piece of the album with the same title which I performed in my town for real audience  „Soaring time“ is because it’s really heartbreaking, it’s one of my most unique piece.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

Just let it enchant you. :) Because it will!

Do you think about the audience when composing?

No, I don’t. I just composing and when my piece is ready, then yes, I would like to share it with my audience as soon as possible.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

I never know what my next piece will be. They are born completely by themselves when they want. Fortunately, the style is given, I never have to force myself to invent a new piece, current feelings and events bring them to the light.