Author : Franz Liszt

Description

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

Johann Kuhnau, who preceded Johann Sebastian Bach as the Thomas Cantor in Leipzig, left behind a wealth of works, including pivotal compositions for keyboard instruments. This comprehensive volume, supervised by Early Music specialist Peter Wollny, presents Kuhnau's complete oeuvre for the first time. To aid modern musicians more accustomed to the piano, the edition includes explanations of the ornaments and other historical performance practices, empowering them to embark on an exciting voyage of discovery with this repertoire.

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

The composition and publication of the first two volumes of Liszt's "Années de pèlerinage" are closely interlinked. Shortly after returning from Switzerland in 1837, Liszt and his companion Marie d'Agoult embarked on a two-year trip to Italy. In the "Switzerland" volume, Liszt's music primarily depicts the country's nature, landscape, and history. Conversely, the "Italy" volume is devoted to impressions from literature (Petrarch, Dante) and the visual arts (Raffael, Michelangelo). Composed between 1838 and 1849, the seven pieces in these volumes, culminating in the "Dante" Sonata, were reworked several times before their publication in 1858. Three years later, the "Venezia e Napoli" volume was published as a supplement. For this revised edition, a manuscript copy of the second piece with Liszt's corrections has been evaluated for the first time. Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi has provided new fingerings.

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

etween 1837-39, Liszt traveled through Italy with Marie d'Agoult. Similar to the first volume of the Années de Pèlerinage, Schweiz (1835/36), he again recorded his travel impressions in musical form. Liszt devoted these pieces to subjects from literature (Petrarca, Dante) and the visual arts (Raffael, Michelangelo).

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

The three volumes of Liszt's "Années de pèlerinage" (Years of Pilgrimage) are a cornerstone of his piano works. The first two collections capture travel impressions from Switzerland and Italy in the 1830s, while the final volume, published in 1883 after a long delay, reflects a spiritual journey. This last collection expresses the changed circumstances of the composer, who had taken minor holy orders in Rome in 1865 and thereafter called himself "Abbé Liszt."

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

The three volumes of Liszt's "Années de pèlerinage" (Years of Pilgrimage) are a cornerstone of his piano works. The first two collections capture travel impressions from Switzerland and Italy in the 1830s, while the final volume, published in 1883 after a long delay, reflects a spiritual journey. This last collection expresses the changed circumstances of the composer, who had taken minor holy orders in Rome in 1865 and thereafter called himself "Abbé Liszt."

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

In the second volume titled "Italie" of the three-part series "Années de pèlerinage," released in 1858, prominent figures of Italian art and literature are prominently featured. Among them is Dante, whose renowned work "Divina Commedia" significantly influenced Liszt, leading to the creation of "Après une lecture du Dante." This piece, subtitled "Fantasia quasi Sonata," underwent four iterations between 1839 and 1853. The subtitle reflects a contemporary understanding of formal ambiguity, as the four sections can be perceived as both a sonata form and a four-part sonata. Additionally, the work showcases the full range of Liszt's piano techniques, from lyrical melodies to demanding octave passages. Notably, this composition stands out as the longest and most technically challenging in the Italian collection, making it one of the most celebrated pieces in the "Année" series, now available in a revised single edition.

Author : Franz Liszt

Description

Liszt wrote his two Ballades during a period of personal upheaval, with the first Ballade composed in 1845–49 and the second in 1853. As a successful virtuoso increasingly focused on formal clarity, Liszt composed his renowned B minor sonata that same year. The first Ballade was born amidst Liszt's separation from his longtime mistress, Marie Comtesse d'Agoult, and he initially titled the work "Dernières Illusions." The second Ballade in B minor, a more famous composition, presented Liszt with a particular challenge, as evidenced by the two fortissimo endings published for the first time in the appendix to this edition.