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. |
From inside the book
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... contain an authentic record of this visit. It is well known that Schindler tampered with the Conversation Books after they fell into his possession at Beethoven's death in 1827;this argument is sometimes raised in an attempt to cast ...
... contain two entries of importance in the second half of April 1823—that is, several days after the concert had taken place.6 In the first, Beethoven's nephew Karl tells his uncle that the hall was “not full.” In the second, he again ...
... contain no such interrogation. Moreover, and more seriously, they contain no mention of Liszt having played anything for Beethoven.16As for the rest, the memoir stands in vigorous opposition to the many other reminiscences of this event ...
... contain a further entry in the hand of Beethoven's nephew Karl. Responding to a question from Beethoven, Karl writes: “Schwarze Haare,”that is, black hair. That entry has recently been used to assert that Beethoven never even set eyes ...
... containing a bed, a writing desk, and a small upright piano—with a missing D-natural. It was in this unlikely setting, and on this unlikely instrument, that Liszt returned with renewed vigor to his transcriptions of the Beethoven ...
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 | |