Here's the story behind this piece: (Read the last paragraph for the important stuff. This first two paragraphs aren't essential, but I thought it was interesting background info.) Liszt's long time lover, caroline de saint-cricq, was very close to getting a divorce to her current husband and marrying Liszt. So close, in fact, that the Pope (a close friend of Liszt) had sanctioned an annulment and was ready to approve the wedding. The wedding was to take place in Rome on Liszt's 50th birthday. However, 10 hours before the wedding, they were notified that Pope Pius IX had overturned his sanction for the wedding. There are no records today that the Pope had done this. In reality, it is extremely likely this was a last ditch effort by Caroline's husband (and his family) to delay the wedding. And that's all it could do: delay the wedding. But after so long of working for a divorce (thirteen years!), Caroline was tired, and gave up pursuit for the wedding. Caroline moved to an apartment in Rome, and Liszt moved into another not far so he could visit. 11 months later, Liszt's daughter, Blandine, died giving birth. This, combined with his son Daniel's earlier death and the end of his relationship with Caroline took a heavy toll, throwing him into a deep depression. People said he aged by the day, with his hair turning grey, then white, and he grew warts. To cope with his depression, Liszt turned to the church, taking four of the seven vows of priesthood, and moved to the Madonna del Rosario Monastery on June 20th, 1863 (he was 52). He lived in a tiny cell on the ground floor measuring 12 by 15 ft, but the windows left him a large view of Rome and St. Peter's Dome off in the distance. He lived like, and often with, the monks, sometimes helping officiate mass. He could work without interruption. This work about St. Francis and the Birds is said to have been inspired by the thousands of sparrows that flew over the monastery in massive cloud-like figures. Credit to the Robert Greenberg Great Masters: Liszt audio series for the info.
Thank you for this. There is a mistake here- the lover in question is Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein, a Polish princess whom Liszt met in Kiev in 1847 and who was to dominate most of the rest of his life. Caroline de Caint-Cricq was indeed Liszt's love when he was a young man of 17- she was one of his pupils, and he loved her deeply, but her faither insisted that the attachment be broken off. He met her again many years later on one of his tours and they reminisced about the past.
I just searched this piece up after reading about it in Alan Walker’s Liszt biography. This is probably my favorite piece from Liszt’s time in Rome. It’s a masterpiece- as Walker points out, the texture is decades ahead of its time and serves to foreshadow the impressionistic movement. Also, aside from being highly innovative, it’s just a pleasure to hear. Additionally, Liszt’s musical portrayal of the birds chirping is quite brilliant.
Phew! Glad to be the first viewer. Thanks for posting this beautiful piece. Listen to the organ arrangement with Andreas Rothkopf as well. You can REALLY feel the imagery of the birds singing in response to the monk’s words of wisdom.
At that Time , Liszt’s love was not for Caroline St Cricq but for Carolyne Sayn Wittgenstein. Death of his daughter Blandine was due to an abcess after breastfeeding her son. Nevertheless beautiful music
Here's the story behind this piece:
(Read the last paragraph for the important stuff. This first two paragraphs aren't essential, but I thought it was interesting background info.)
Liszt's long time lover, caroline de saint-cricq, was very close to getting a divorce to her current husband and marrying Liszt. So close, in fact, that the Pope (a close friend of Liszt) had sanctioned an annulment and was ready to approve the wedding. The wedding was to take place in Rome on Liszt's 50th birthday. However, 10 hours before the wedding, they were notified that Pope Pius IX had overturned his sanction for the wedding. There are no records today that the Pope had done this. In reality, it is extremely likely this was a last ditch effort by Caroline's husband (and his family) to delay the wedding. And that's all it could do: delay the wedding. But after so long of working for a divorce (thirteen years!), Caroline was tired, and gave up pursuit for the wedding. Caroline moved to an apartment in Rome, and Liszt moved into another not far so he could visit.
11 months later, Liszt's daughter, Blandine, died giving birth. This, combined with his son Daniel's earlier death and the end of his relationship with Caroline took a heavy toll, throwing him into a deep depression. People said he aged by the day, with his hair turning grey, then white, and he grew warts.
To cope with his depression, Liszt turned to the church, taking four of the seven vows of priesthood, and moved to the Madonna del Rosario Monastery on June 20th, 1863 (he was 52). He lived in a tiny cell on the ground floor measuring 12 by 15 ft, but the windows left him a large view of Rome and St. Peter's Dome off in the distance. He lived like, and often with, the monks, sometimes helping officiate mass. He could work without interruption. This work about St. Francis and the Birds is said to have been inspired by the thousands of sparrows that flew over the monastery in massive cloud-like figures.
Credit to the Robert Greenberg Great Masters: Liszt audio series for the info.
Wow. You should change your username to Dominic Storeytella!
Thank you for this. There is a mistake here- the lover in question is Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein, a Polish princess whom Liszt met in Kiev in 1847 and who was to dominate most of the rest of his life. Caroline de Caint-Cricq was indeed Liszt's love when he was a young man of 17- she was one of his pupils, and he loved her deeply, but her faither insisted that the attachment be broken off. He met her again many years later on one of his tours and they reminisced about the past.
@@labemolmineurYe I was somehow confuses at the start lol
I just searched this piece up after reading about it in Alan Walker’s Liszt biography. This is probably my favorite piece from Liszt’s time in Rome. It’s a masterpiece- as Walker points out, the texture is decades ahead of its time and serves to foreshadow the impressionistic movement. Also, aside from being highly innovative, it’s just a pleasure to hear. Additionally, Liszt’s musical portrayal of the birds chirping is quite brilliant.
Phew! Glad to be the first viewer. Thanks for posting this beautiful piece. Listen to the organ arrangement with Andreas Rothkopf as well. You can REALLY feel the imagery of the birds singing in response to the monk’s words of wisdom.
Ahead of his time, so imaginative and impressionist.
Thanks for the upload and the informative and inspiring comments! Great work.
How many interesting and wonderful prices he wrote for us. He is alive with his music because we listening him with pleasure ❤
Inoubliable France Clidat…ma prof à l’ Ècole Normale Supérieure de Musique
Это Божественно большое спасибо .
Que maravilla. Realmente me imagino a San Francisco predicando a las hermanas avecillas
There are birds singing in the background? 🤔
At that Time , Liszt’s love was not for Caroline St Cricq but for Carolyne Sayn Wittgenstein. Death of his daughter Blandine was due to an abcess after breastfeeding her son. Nevertheless beautiful music