Reading Franz Liszt

Revealing the Poetry behind the Piano Music

By: Paul Roberts

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Hardcover | 15 May 2022

At a Glance

Hardcover
200 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
15.9 x 23.6 x 2.2

Hardcover

$112.75

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A look beyond the virtuosity of Romanticismâs piano superstar.

Pianist Paul Roberts recasts Franz Liszt as a composer of poetic feeling rather than just a purveyor of technical brilliance. Reading Franz Liszt: Revealing the Poetry behind the Piano Music immerses readers in Lisztâs world through a vivid exploration of his most beloved pieces and the literature that inspired themâ"from Petrarchâs love poetry to the sensibilities of Byron, S©nancour, 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 Lisztâs poetic world, revealing the relevance of his literary inspiration for todayâs listeners as well as for performers coming to terms with its expressive demands.

Industry Reviews

Critics have often described Hungarian composer Franz Liszt’s (1811–86) music as showy and bombastic, but in this book the British concert pianist Roberts seeks the poetry behind Liszt’s compositions. The book seeks Liszt’s influences (which Roberts argues include Petrarch’s Sonnets, Goethe’s Faust, and the poetry of Lord Byron). Frequently, Roberts has as much (or even more) to say about these literary works as about Liszt’s compositions. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations and citations from Liszt’s scores. Readers looking for a musical biography of Liszt will find here instead an excursion through European culture of the 19th century and earlier. Roberts’ accessible style reads like a conversation with his erudite friends.

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