Well, thanks to you, this is another step forward towards the completion of my education in music. Liszt was a prolific composer in the Romantic Era, and, as a melophile, not knowing about him is a big hiatus in my grasp and awareness of the divine discipline that is music. Little by little, then. I can be patient! Just learnt that Liszt was a student of Salieri’s, that he was a friend and benefactor of many of his peers, Berlioz, Chopin, and the Schumanns, and was known to paraphrase his contemporaries’ works to make them more acceptable to the audience. This was another side of his character, and indeed very noble. I am ashamed to admit that the only music of his that Mamma had-on пластинки, Мелодия, for these were sold in Delhi then, were the Hungarian Rhapsodies. The Spanish Rhapsody, we know, came about as a result of Liszt’s amazing travel and sojourn in Iberia and the music is said to have a distinct Spanish flavour to it. In fact, this is what I was trying to look for in the music. When Liszt visited Iberia, he was in his mid-to-late thirties so he had already matured as a musician. This fact is very obviously evident in what one hears. The other notable observation is that the music is technically quite challenging; Liszt was a master pianist so the complexity in his creations is not surprising. Сейчас послушал Ваши концерты in a marvellous medley. два раза подряд. I liked the way the concert begins with deep rumblings and a pronounced use of the left hand. The music next moves to the higher notes into sweeping arpeggios, allowing you to bring out brilliantly the effective piano textures, so compelling, that the unique genius of Liszt has created. We next moved to the first Spanish component which you point out, and which I could identify from the dance-like rhythm in the sequence. The dance-like rhythm starts slow like an old man mumbling to himself on a country road, and from there the tune gradually gathers momentum in a series of increasingly animated variations until its elaboration extends over the entire range of the keyboard. Unbelievable! But then, at the peak of all this exuberance, you interrupt the proceedings with a music-box effect in the high register, chiming out a playful and childlike dance rhythm, the second Spanish arrangement, the popular character of which is reinforced by drone tones in the mid-range. Succeeding variations continue to dazzle and astonish until a tender recitative provides a sentimental pause for lyrical reflection. You make Liszt come alive at the climax. One can clearly see him, his nostrils now flaring widely, Liszt rolls up his sleeves and cracks his knuckles to unleash a robust apotheosis of his two main themes in a concentrated display of bravura that may have you reaching for your opera glasses to verify just how many arms the pianist is using, and how many fingers are attached to each. This is akin to a display of fireworks! To sum up, in one word, Bravo Sophia! You are, несомненно и бесспорно the best of the best! Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words and sharing your insights! Liszt’s music is so powerful and full of emotion, I’m glad you enjoyed this performance.
Well, thanks to you, this is another step forward towards the completion of my education in music. Liszt was a prolific composer in the Romantic Era, and, as a melophile, not knowing about him is a big hiatus in my grasp and awareness of the divine discipline that is music. Little by little, then. I can be patient!
Just learnt that Liszt was a student of Salieri’s, that he was a friend and benefactor of many of his peers, Berlioz, Chopin, and the Schumanns, and was known to paraphrase his contemporaries’ works to make them more acceptable to the audience. This was another side of his character, and indeed very noble. I am ashamed to admit that the only music of his that Mamma had-on пластинки, Мелодия, for these were sold in Delhi then, were the Hungarian Rhapsodies.
The Spanish Rhapsody, we know, came about as a result of Liszt’s amazing travel and sojourn in Iberia and the music is said to have a distinct Spanish flavour to it. In fact, this is what I was trying to look for in the music. When Liszt visited Iberia, he was in his mid-to-late thirties so he had already matured as a musician. This fact is very obviously evident in what one hears. The other notable observation is that the music is technically quite challenging; Liszt was a master pianist so the complexity in his creations is not surprising.
Сейчас послушал Ваши концерты in a marvellous medley. два раза подряд.
I liked the way the concert begins with deep rumblings and a pronounced use of the left hand. The music next moves to the higher notes into sweeping arpeggios, allowing you to bring out brilliantly the effective piano textures, so compelling, that the unique genius of Liszt has created. We next moved to the first Spanish component which you point out, and which I could identify from the dance-like rhythm in the sequence. The dance-like rhythm starts slow like an old man mumbling to himself on a country road, and from there the tune gradually gathers momentum in a series of increasingly animated variations until its elaboration extends over the entire range of the keyboard. Unbelievable!
But then, at the peak of all this exuberance, you interrupt the proceedings with a music-box effect in the high register, chiming out a playful and childlike dance rhythm, the second Spanish arrangement, the popular character of which is reinforced by drone tones in the mid-range. Succeeding variations continue to dazzle and astonish until a tender recitative provides a sentimental pause for lyrical reflection.
You make Liszt come alive at the climax. One can clearly see him, his nostrils now flaring widely, Liszt rolls up his sleeves and cracks his knuckles to unleash a robust apotheosis of his two main themes in a concentrated display of bravura that may have you reaching for your opera glasses to verify just how many arms the pianist is using, and how many fingers are attached to each. This is akin to a display of fireworks!
To sum up, in one word, Bravo Sophia! You are, несомненно и бесспорно the best of the best! Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words and sharing your insights! Liszt’s music is so powerful and full of emotion, I’m glad you enjoyed this performance.