Reading Franz Liszt

Paul Roberts

doi:10.5771/9781538143353

Reading Franz Liszt

Revealing the Poetry behind the Piano Music

Published 2022

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doi.org/10.5771/9781538143353
ISBN print: 978-1-5381-4334-6
ISBN online: 978-1-5381-4335-3
Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham

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Zusammenfassung

A look beyond the virtuosity of Romanticism’s piano superstar.

Pianist Paul Roberts recasts Franz Liszt as a composer of poetic feeling rather than just a purveyor of technical brilliance. Reading Franz Liszt: Revealing the Poetry behind the Piano Music immerses readers in Liszt’s world through a vivid exploration of his most beloved pieces and the literature that inspired them—from Petrarch’s love poetry to the sensibilities of Byron, Sénancour, Goethe, and others. The origins of artistic inspiration can be obscure. However, for Franz Liszt, literary quotations in his scores provide fascinating insights into the sources of his creative imagination, revealing a breadth of reading that inspired some of the greatest piano music of all time.

A knowledge of the writers whom Liszt revered and often quoted at length enriches an understanding and appreciation of his music. Roberts shows how Liszt in his pioneering piano works created a new concept of musical expression comparable to the emotional and dramatic power of the opera and novel. This book leads us into the essence of Liszt’s poetic world, revealing the relevance of his literary inspiration for today’s listeners as well as for performers coming to terms with its expressive demands.

Schlagworte

Goethe Dante Faust Pianist Petrarch Music Criticism Performers Piano Repertoire Piano Sonata Romantic Music Vallee d'Obermann Virtuoso Annees de pelerinage Etudes Byron

Keywords

literature music Music History Romanticism

Chapter Expand | CollapsePage
Preface
1–8 Introduction. Making a Sound 1–8
9–18 1. Life, Literature, and Music 9–18
19–26 2. The Pianist as Actor 19–26
27–48 3. The Music of Desire: Petrarch Sonnets 27–48
49–64 4. The Question of Goethe’s Faust: Sonata in B minor 49–64
65–78 5. Music as Metaphor: Sonata in B minor 65–78
79–94 6. The Romantic Image: “Vallée d’Obermann” 79–94
95–114 7. The Aura of Byron: Années de pèlerinage—Suisse 95–114
115–130 8. Mental Theater: Années de pèlerinage—Suisse 115–130
131–144 9. Music and Poetry: The Dante Sonata 131–144
145–156 Appendix 145–156
157–174 Notes 157–174
175–178 Select Bibliography 175–178
179–182 Index 179–182
183–184 About the Author 183–184

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