Reading Franz Liszt: Revealing the Poetry behind the Piano Music

by Paul Roberts

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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 Liszt: 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, Senancour, 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.

  • ISBN10 1538143348
  • ISBN13 9781538143346
  • Publish Date 15 June 2022 (first published 15 May 2022)
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country US
  • Publisher Hal Leonard Corporation
  • Imprint Amadeus Press
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 200
  • Language English