Although the piece opens and ends in A-flat major, it shifts throughout its three parts to many other keys, A, G, D-sharp, F-sharp and B among them. It starts with a four-note lyrical melody which folds itself through the work, followed by a Chopin-like chromatic pattern which reappears again in the coda. Written in A-flat major, it is among Liszt's longest pieces in the genre. The Italian subtitles now associated with the études- Il lamento ('The Lament'), La leggierezza ('Lightness'), and Un sospiro ('A sigh')-first appeared in the French edition. Liszt was himself a virtuoso pianist and was able to easily play many complex patterns generally considered difficult. Īs the title indicates, they are intended not only for the acquisition of a better technique, but also for concert performance. While Liszt’s Hungarian Dances are a clear nod to his nationalist obligations, his imaginative reshaping of fiery improvisations, rhythmic spontaneity and seductive musical expressions eventually “led to an increasingly subjective verbunkos idiom.Three Concert Études ( Trois études de concert), S.144, is a set of three piano études by Franz Liszt, composed between 1845–49 and published in Paris as Trois caprices poétiques with the three individual titles as they are known today. It contrasts a slow-moving dramatic section called “Lassan” (Slow), with a vigorous and joyous segment entitled “Friska” (Fresh). Six of his Hungarian Rhapsodies were “orchestrated by or with the help of the flautist, conductor and composer Franz Doppler, who had met Liszt in Weimar in 1854.” The musical structures of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies are derived from an 18th-century musical genre colorfully named “Verbunkos,” which was played during military recruitment exercises. Liszt “has been maligned for mistaking some of the music played by gypsies for genuine Hungarian folksongs his book Des bohémiens of 1859 further clouded the issue, and made him some prominent enemies in his homeland.” In the event, some of these rhapsodies are better known than other, and Liszt arranged the most popular pieces for orchestra, piano duet and piano trio. Liszt did incorporate genuine Magyar folk melodies-filtered through gypsy improvisation-into his rhapsodies, but there was immediate confusion as to what constituted gypsy as opposed to Hungarian music. 15 (György Cziffra, piano)įranz Liszt statue outside Hungarian State Opera House Since Hungary was struggling for independence from Austria, Liszt became a national hero in the eyes of his compatriots.įranz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No.

Liszt was, after all, the most prominent Hungarian of his day, far better known abroad than the country’s leading politicians. Arriving in the city of Pest he was given a rapturous welcome normally reserved for visiting royalty. On that occasion he took the opportunity to return to his native land for the first time since his childhood. As he wrote, “I am Hungarian and know no greater pleasure than to present honorably the first fruits of my development and education as an initial offering of the most sincere affection and gratitude before leaving to France and England steady hard work and travels may bring what is still lacking in my playing to greater perfection, and perhaps place me in the fortunate position to have become a branch to adorn my beloved country.” Between 18 November and 4 December 1839, Liszt performed six Beethoven Memorial Concerts in Vienna. Liszt, however, was intensely patriotic, and he had always felt a special connection to Hungary. He made his name as a pianist and composer during his roughly two decades in foreign lands, and his national identity initially figured primarily as a promotional factor. In fact, Liszt grew up unable to speak Hungarian, and at the age of nine he left his home for Vienna and subsequently Paris. That particular area of western Hungary had been ceded to Austria, and German was his native tongue. Franz Liszt was born in the village of Doborján, also known as Raiding in German, in Sopron County in the Kingdom of Hungary. She was 12 years younger than her husband, and Franz was their only child. His mother came from a working-class family and earned a meager wage as a chambermaid in Vienna. He personally knew Joseph Haydn, and not long before the birth of his son, he was transferred to the village of Raiding as a sheep accountant. His father was a gifted amateur singer, pianist and cellist who took part in summer concerts at the Esterházy estates. Franz Liszt was born to Marie Anna Lager and Ádám Liszt on 22 October 1811.

Franz lizst.