Reflections on LisztIn a series of lively essays that tell us much not only about the phenomenon that was Franz Liszt but also about the musical and cultural life of nineteenth-century Europe, Alan Walker muses on aspects of Liszt's life and work that he was unable to explore in his acclaimed three-volume biography of the great composer and pianist. Topics include Liszt's contributions to the Lied, the lifelong impact of his encounter with Beethoven, his influence on students who became famous in their own right, his accomplishments in transcribing and editing the works of other composers, and his innovative piano technique. One chapter is devoted to the Sonata in B Minor, perhaps Liszt's single most celebrated composition. Walker draws heavily on Liszt's astonishingly large personal correspondence with other composers, critics, pianists, and prominent public figures. All the essays reveal Walker's broad and deep knowledge of Liszt and Romantic music generally and, in some cases, his impatience with contemporary performance practice. |
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... consider it a rather useless employment of my time if I had added yet another version of the symphonies in a manner up to now routine.”4 Liszt was not content, then, to produce something that was “up to now routine.” The thing that ...
... ridiculous to pretend that these designations suffice to transplant the magic of the orchestra to the piano; nevertheless I do not consider them superfluous.17 The original title page of Liszt's piano transcriptions of the.
... Consider Kalkbrenner's phrasing of this figure from the first movement of the Eroica: It is marvelous to play, but it is not what Beethoven wrote. Liszt does not compromise on such matters. He leaves Beethoven's phrasing unharmed ...
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Contents
Liszt and the Schubert Song Transcriptions | |
A Study in Declining | |
Three Character Sketches | |
Liszts Sonata in B Minor | |
Liszt and the Lied | |
Liszt as Editor | |
Some Thoughts and Afterthoughts | |
On Music and Musicians | |
An Open Letter to Franz Liszt | |
Sources | |