F. Liszt "Preludes"
The great son of the Hungarian people, Franz Liszt, entered the history of world culture not only as a brilliant pianist, who at one time was not equal, but also as a brilliant composer who replenished the treasury of musical works with talented compositions. In addition to the wonderful works for piano, the composer made a tangible contribution to symphonic music. It was he who first created a romantic work, which was called the "symphonic poem". A great example of this is his "Preludes" - a musical composition that has received high praise from listeners all over the world.
History of creation
The history of the creation of the Preludes, which turned out to be very difficult, began in the summer of 1844, when Liszt came to Marseille with a concert program. He was warmly welcomed there by familiar artists of the touring German chorus, he was invited to their performances, and soon the team leader turned to the composer with a request to compose a new vocal work, which should certainly be performed by the choir at the next concert. After Ferenc gladly responded to this offer, he was introduced to Joseph Autrans, a French poet, to whose verses the maestro was supposed to write music. The poetic text with the name “Aquilon” (wind) by Liszt was worked out very quickly, and the new work performed by the choir was already heard at the fourth concert of the pianist. The author himself accompanied the piano.
Everyone liked the result of the first creative collaboration of the composer and poet, so Liszt asked, and Otran gave him three more poems with the title: "Earth", "Water" and "Stars", which the maestro soon also put to music.
After creative meetings in Marseilles, a year passed, and a tireless composer suddenly had a new idea: he decided to combine the choirs to the poems of the French poet in a single cycle with the name "The Four Elements" and add to them a big symphonic overture. The work started in 1845 was reprocessed several times and was completed only five years later. His orchestration was made by the talented German composer Joseph Joachim Raff, who worked at that time as an assistant to Liszt.
There are several versions of why the overture, originally called the Four Elements, became Preludes. According to one of them: Liszt, impressed with the poems of the French poet Alphonse de Lamartine from the collection “New Poetic Reflections,” decided to rename his work and give him the title of one of the poems. His text formed the basis of the program of the new composition, which now was called not a overture, but a symphonic poem. The essence of the program is as follows: human life with all the hardships and joys - this is just a prelude to the main thing - the heavenly life.
The premiere performance of the Preludes was held in Weimar in February 1854. Behind the conductor's stand was the author. The score was published by the oldest Leipzig music publishing house, Braitkopf and Hertel, in January 1865.
Interesting Facts
- The term "Symphonic Poem" appeared quite by accident. In the announcement of the upcoming premiere concert on February 23, 1854, it was written: "Preludes are symphonic poetry."
- Joseph Joachim Raff, a talented German composer who worked as secretary of Ferenc in Weimar and subsequently orchestrated Preludes, was very critical of the works of Franz Liszt. The composer felt offended, but appreciating Raff's brilliant works on arranging musical works for the orchestra and extortion of his pride, in a letter he asked for constant cooperation.
- Ferenc Liszt devoted the symphonic poem "Preludes" to his common-law wife, Princess Caroline Sayn-Wittgenstein, whom he met in 1847 in Kiev, during a tour of the Russian Empire. Subsequently, the daughter of Corolina - Maria Wittgenstein (nee) founded the Liszt Museum in Weimar.
- Soviet writer Valentin Pikul told about Liszt’s novel with Corolina Wittgenstein in his work Requiem for Last Love. In addition, in 1970, viewers saw a two-part feature film of the Soviet-Hungarian production "Dreams of Love", which tells about the romantic relationship of the great Hungarian composer and Russian princess.
- At the beginning of 1859 the symphonic poem by Franz Liszt "Preludes" was successfully performed in New York. After the premiere in the United States, Carl Klauser arranged the piano composition, which was presented to the composer in 1863. Arrangement Liszt did not like and he partially redid it. Somewhat later, the author himself made two options: for two pianos and one four-hand piano. There is also a version for harmonium and piano by A. Reinhard and for the military orchestra of L. Helfer.
- The fanfare sounds from the final march of the Preludes were chosen to accompany the weekly radio and newsreels telling about the victories of the armed forces of Nazi Germany in 1935-1945.
Content
Despite the text program of the poem, which was altered four times, the musical content of the Preludes turned out to be quite different. Liszt composed an optimistic, life-affirming work, in which there is no even a hint about death: a person goes through all the trials of fate and leaves them as the winner.
"Preludes" are a prime example of monothematism. Here, a three-voice expressive melodic turn is the basis not only of the intro theme, but also intonationally connects the main, connecting and side parts of the work.
The symphonic poem "Preludes" by Franz Liszt wrote in the form of a sonata allegro with a mirror reprise. This form of the work corresponds to the composer’s plan, in which the greatness of the human spirit must prevail, and since this image is expressed in the main part, its sound is necessary precisely in the final, because it is due to the idea of the composition.
The poem begins with a mysterious character the entry. The insinuating sounds of pizzicato strings, and then the motif, similar to the question, create a feeling of romantic mystery. A pensive theme in the choral sound of violin instruments, decorated with woodwind chords, first takes place in C major, and then again, but already in D minor. Gradually increasing, it leads to main party The exposition, which is based on the three-part entry motif, is the topic of the issue. Sounding solemnly and stately, performed by bassoons, trombones and bass strings, the main part convincingly displays the image of a proud man, confident in his abilities.
Binding party continues to characterize the main character, but shows it from the other side. This is no longer a hero ready for victory, but a personality to whom simple human feelings are not alien: he also wants love and happiness. Transparent texture, lulling accompaniment, expressive melody performed by strings, and then French horn, immersed in a special sublime atmosphere of romantic reverie. Colorful modulation from C major in E major prepares the appearance side batch - lyrical image of love. At first, it sounds intimate, but at the same time warm and penetrating. The theme of the choir of horns and horns alto gives a special intimate theme. Subsequently, the secondary part grows, capturing the entire range of the orchestra, and reaching a climax, dies away.
The idyll displayed in the secondary batch ends. AT developing it is replaced by completely contrasting music. The howling of the wind is heard, a storm begins that can destroy human happiness. However, soon the dramatically depicted pictorial picture of the wrestling ends with the brass call-up fanfare. The shocks ended, they were replaced by peace of mind. First the gentle melody is expressively sung by the oboe, and then the horn, clarinet and fluteimitating the shepherd's trumpets, create an idyllic picture of complete serenity. Following this, inconspicuous begins mirror reprise, at first a binding party sounds, which, by changing its character, becomes more energetic. The next party after it is also noticeably transformed. She took the form of a triumphal march. The work ends with a powerful holding of the main theme, which sounds like a heroic apotheosis of the poem.
"Preludes" are considered one of the best creations. Franz Liszt. Of the thirteen symphonic poems written by the composer, they are the most popular, and are included in the repertoire of many famous world orchestras.
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