Franz Liszt – a world citizen or a Hungarian patriot? Hungarian Rhapsodies as an example of implementing the concept of national music

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Franz Liszt – a world citizen or a Hungarian patriot? Hungarian Rhapsodies as an example of implementing the concept of national music

Journal Title: Notes Muzyczny - Year 2018, Vol 1, Issue 9

Abstract

The article is an attempt to determine the attitude of Franz Liszt to Hungary – the country where the composer was born, which in the 19th century was part of the Austrian Empire. The artist was shaped in accordance with the Western European culture model. That in combination with contacts with the intellectuals and the world of art deeply transformed Liszt’s worldview and shaped his artistic profile. This cosmopolitan attitude changed at a certain stage of his life when he returned to his home country. In Hungary, a process began, which allowed Liszt to notice the meaning of his country’s culture. This tendency was expressed in the composer’s interest in Gypsy music and national folklore. The article characterises the music of Hungarian Roma people as well as folk dances (verbunkos, czardas). The influence of the aforementioned elements is noticeable in Liszt’s compositions from that period, especially in the nineteen Hungarian Rhapsodies. The cycle includes clear references to Gypsy music, the sound of a Roma band in particular. A reference to folklore is the form of the pieces and the stylistic means taken from verbunkos, among others. The Rhapsodies are a masterly combination of virtuoso technique with the capacities of the piano (imitation of the cimbalom or glockenspiel). The composer incorporated new harmonic qualities, such as a Gypsy scale or imitation of folk bass. At the same time, the cycle remains in accordance with the rules of classical harmony. Liszt’s searching for new composition possibilities and sound qualities gave an impulse for the development of ethnomusicology, exploring and formulating new concepts in the art of piano playing (e.g. by Béla Bartók).<br/><br/>

Authors and Affiliations

Zbigniew Waszak

Keywords

Basic performance issues of the full voice accompaniment style in France in 1690–1750 in the light of selected treatises, part 1: France and its musical style

Basic performance issues of the full voice accompaniment style in France in 1690–1750 in the light of selected treatises is a cycle of articles based on Daniel Pochwała’s diploma thesis written during his BA studies at t...

EP ID EP516929
DOI 10.5604/01.3001.0012.9901
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