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Reading Franz Liszt: Revealing the Poetry behind the Piano Music
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 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.
Pianist Paul Roberts recasts Franz Liszt as a composer of poetic feeling rather than just a purveyor of technical brilliance. Reading Franz 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.
- GenresMusic
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2022
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About the author
Paul Roberts
273 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 11, 2023
I truly appreciate Mr. Roberts, as I have enjoyed his lectures and his wonderful book on Debussy. While I grasp what he is trying to do with this book, I did not have a fleshed-out sense like I did with the Debussy book. Is there nothing from Liszt’s own letters to corroborate some of the claims put forth regarding musical programs?
The font size of poetic excerpts is smaller than the regular text, and I had some difficulty reading them. Also, a couple more pictures, e.g. Switzerland would have helped firm up the point on ‘influences’.
The font size of poetic excerpts is smaller than the regular text, and I had some difficulty reading them. Also, a couple more pictures, e.g. Switzerland would have helped firm up the point on ‘influences’.
Displaying 1 of 1 review