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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... lived such a life as mine,” he replied. The remark was entirely typical of his self-irony. It was indeed a life filled with color and with incidents so graphic that the whole of Europe was riveted by them. Marked by triumph and marred ...
... lived, I somewhat shyly, Czerny amiably encouraging me. Beethoven was working at a long, narrow table by the window. He looked gloomily at us for a time, said a few brief words to Czerny, and remained silent when my kind teacher ...
... lived in France for fifteen years and would not deliberately insult his adopted country. Nobody listened. The banquet finally broke up in disarray and the guests re-formed themselves into tight little knots of partisans, all arguing ...
... lived in relative seclusion from the world, meditating, studying, and composing. He was given a cell 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 ...
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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 | |