Rezso Seress
Encyclopedia
Rezső Seress (ˈrɛʒøː ˈʃɛrɛʃ; 3 November 1899 11 January 1968) was a Hungarian pianist
and composer
. Some sources give his birth name as Rudolf ("Rudi") Spitzer.
Rezső Seress lived most of his life in poverty in Budapest
, when, being Jewish, was taken to a labour camp by the Nazis during the Second World War. He survived the camp and after employment in the theatre and the circus, where he was a trapeze artist, he concentrated on songwriting and singing after an injury. Seress taught himself to play the piano with only one hand. He composed many songs, including Fizetek főúr (Waiter, bring me the bill), Én úgy szeretek részeg lenni (I love being drunk), and a song for the Hungarian Communist Party
to commemorate the chain bridge crossing the river in Budapest, Újra a Lánchídon.
His most famous composition was Szomorú Vasárnap ("Gloomy Sunday
") written in 1933, which gained infamy as it became associated with a spate of suicide
s.
Seress felt a strong loyalty to Hungary, and one reason for his poverty whilst having a world-famous song was that he never wished to go to the USA to collect his royalties
; instead, staying as pianist at the Kispipa restaurant in his home town. This restaurant had a pipe stove at the centre of its dining room, and was remarkably cold for a restaurant. The place was a favourite of prostitutes, musicians, Bohemian
spirits
and the Jewish working class.
As his fame began to wane, along with his loyalty to the communist party, Seress plunged into depression. Although surviving the Nazi forced labour in the Ukraine
, his mother didn't, increasing the gloom in his world.
Seress committed suicide
in Budapest
in January 1968; he survived jumping out of a window, but later in the hospital choked himself to death with a wire. His obituary in the New York Times mentions the notorious reputation of "Gloomy Sunday":
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Some sources give his birth name as Rudolf ("Rudi") Spitzer.
Rezső Seress lived most of his life in poverty in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, when, being Jewish, was taken to a labour camp by the Nazis during the Second World War. He survived the camp and after employment in the theatre and the circus, where he was a trapeze artist, he concentrated on songwriting and singing after an injury. Seress taught himself to play the piano with only one hand. He composed many songs, including Fizetek főúr (Waiter, bring me the bill), Én úgy szeretek részeg lenni (I love being drunk), and a song for the Hungarian Communist Party
Hungarian Communist Party
The Communist Party of Hungary , renamed Hungarian Communist Party in 1945, was founded on November 24, 1918, and was in power in Hungary briefly from March to August 1919 under Béla Kun and the Hungarian Soviet Republic. The communist government was overthrown by the Romanian Army and driven...
to commemorate the chain bridge crossing the river in Budapest, Újra a Lánchídon.
His most famous composition was Szomorú Vasárnap ("Gloomy Sunday
Gloomy Sunday
"Gloomy Sunday" is a song composed by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress and published in 1933, as "Vége a világnak" . Lyrics were written by László Jávor, and in his version the song was retitled "Szomorú vasárnap"...
") written in 1933, which gained infamy as it became associated with a spate of suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
s.
Seress felt a strong loyalty to Hungary, and one reason for his poverty whilst having a world-famous song was that he never wished to go to the USA to collect his royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
; instead, staying as pianist at the Kispipa restaurant in his home town. This restaurant had a pipe stove at the centre of its dining room, and was remarkably cold for a restaurant. The place was a favourite of prostitutes, musicians, Bohemian
Bohemian
A Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word...
spirits
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
and the Jewish working class.
As his fame began to wane, along with his loyalty to the communist party, Seress plunged into depression. Although surviving the Nazi forced labour in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, his mother didn't, increasing the gloom in his world.
Seress committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in January 1968; he survived jumping out of a window, but later in the hospital choked himself to death with a wire. His obituary in the New York Times mentions the notorious reputation of "Gloomy Sunday":