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Consolations (Liszt)

Summary

The Consolations (German: Tröstungen) are a set of six solo piano works by Franz Liszt. The compositions take the musical style of Nocturnes[1] with each having its own distinctive style.[2] Each Consolation is composed in either the key of E major or D♭ major. E major is a key regularly used by Liszt for religious themes.[3][4]

There exist two versions of the Consolations. The first (S.171a) was composed by Liszt between 1844 and 1849[5] and published in 1992 by G. Henle Verlag.[6] The second (S.172) was composed between 1849 and 1850[7] and published in 1850 by Breitkopf & Härtel, containing the familiar Consolation No. 3, Lento placido, in D♭ major.[3][8][9]

Title edit

The source of the title Consolations may have been Lamartine's poem "Une larme, ou Consolation" from the poetry collection Harmonies poétiques et religieuses (Poetic and Religious Harmonies).[3] Liszt's piano cycle Harmonies poétiques et religieuses is based on Lamartine's collection of poems.[10] Another possible inspiration for the title are the Consolations of the French literary historian Charles Sainte-Beuve.[7][11] Sainte-Beuve's Consolations, published in 1830, is a collection of Romantic era poetry where friendship is extolled as a consolation for the loss of religious faith.[12]

The Consolations are also referred to as Six pensées poétiques (Six poetic thoughts), a title not used for Breitkopf's 1850 publication but for a set published shortly thereafter, in the same year, by the Bureau Central de Musique in Paris.[13]

Consolations, S.171a edit

The Consolations, S.171a, consist of six solo compositions for the piano.[14][15]

  1. Andante con moto (E major)
  2. Un poco più mosso (E major)
  3. Lento, quasi recitativo (E major[14]/C-sharp minor[15])
  4. Quasi Adagio, cantabile con devozione (D♭ major)
  5. Andantino (E major) – "Madrigal"
  6. Allegretto (G major)

Composed between 1844 and 1849,[5] they are Liszt's first version of the Consolations and were first published in 1992 by G. Henle Verlag.[16] The manuscripts are located at the Goethe and Schiller Archives in Weimar.[17]

The third Consolation is an arrangement of a Hungarian folksong that would be later reused by Liszt in his Hungarian Rhapsody No.1, S.244/1.[18] The fifth Consolation is the earliest of the compositions and dates from 1844. In an early manuscript, the fifth Consolation is entitled “Madrigal”.[19][20] Liszt dedicated the Madrigal to a friend of his, a Weimar Intendant named M. de Ziegäser.[19]

Consolations, S.172 edit

The Consolations, S.172, consist of six solo compositions for the piano.[21][22]

  1. Andante con moto (E major)
  2. Un poco più mosso (E major)
  3. Lento placido (D♭ major)
  4. Quasi Adagio (D♭ major)
  5. Andantino (E major)
  6. Allegretto sempre cantabile (E major)

Composed between 1849 and 1850,[7] they are Liszt's second version of the Consolations. This version of the Consolations is better known than the first version and was published in 1850 in Leipzig by Breitkopf & Härtel.[6] In comparison to the first version of the Consolations, the original third Consolation (S.171a/3) was replaced with a new Consolation (Lento placido in D♭ major) and the remaining Consolations were simplified.[17]

Consolations Nos. 1 and 2 edit

The first of the Consolations is in E major and initially marked Andante con moto. The shortest of the set, consisting of just 25 measures, it has an identical opening to another of Liszt's works, the Album-Leaf (Première Consolation), S.171b.[23] Consolation No. 2 is also in E major and is initially marked Un poco più mosso. It is often played directly after the first, without a break.[24]

Consolation No. 3 edit

 
Consolation No. 3, first few bars
 
Consolation No. 3, Lento placido
Benedict Kramer, piano (3:46)
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The third Consolation is in D♭ major and initially marked as Lento placido. It is the most popular of the Consolations[3][8][9] and also a favorite encore piece.[25]

Its style is similar to Chopin's Nocturnes;[3] in particular, it seems to have been inspired by Chopin's Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2.[11] The similarity between the two works has been interpreted as a tribute to Chopin who died in 1849, a year before the Consolations were published.[17] This third Consolation is however one of several of Liszt's works that take a style reminiscent of Chopin; some examples include Liszt's Polonaises, Berceuse, Mazurka brillante, and his Ballades.[26]

In 1883, years after composing the Consolation, Liszt received a Grand piano from the Steinway Company with a design that included a sostenuto pedal.[27] Liszt began transcribing this Consolation for the new sostenuto pedal and in a letter to Steinway he wrote:

In relation to the use of your welcome tone-sustaining pedal I inclose two examples: Danse des Sylphes, by Berlioz, and No. 3 of my Consolations. I have today noted down only the introductory bars of both pieces, with this proviso, that, if you desire it, I shall gladly complete the whole transcription, with exact adaptation of your tone-sustaining pedal.[28]

Liszt recommended sparing usage of the sostenuto pedal in the interpretation of this Consolation and opined on the positive effect it would have on the more tranquil passages.[27]

Consolation No. 4 edit

 
Consolation No. 4, first few bars
 
Consolation No. 4, Quasi Adagio
Performed by Constantin Stephan
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Consolation No. 4 is in D♭ major and is initially marked Quasi adagio. Composed in 1849,[29] it is also known as the Stern-Consolation (Star Consolation) because of the six-pointed white star that appears on the printed score.[3] The Consolation was inspired by a Lied written by Maria Pavlovna, the Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.[30][31] The mood of the composition has been described as "churchly-religious"[32] and "prayerlike".[33]

Liszt later re-used the Consolation's theme in the Andante sostenuto / quasi adagio section of his Piano Sonata in B Minor.[31]

Consolation No. 5 edit

 
Consolation No. 5, first few bars
 
Consolation No. 5, Andantino
Performed by Constantin Stephan
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Consolation No. 5 is in E major. It is initially marked Andantino. The Consolation has a cantilena vocal style.[8][33] This Consolation has the oldest genealogy having been reworked from the "Madrigal" of the earlier fifth version of the Consolations.[17][19][20] Compared to the earlier Madrigal, this Consolation:[34]

  • is shorter, having 56 measures compared to the Madrigal's 69;
  • shares several sections with similar melodies;
  • employs simpler harmonies;
  • and is rhythmically less rigid.

Consolation No. 6 edit

 
Consolation No. 6, first few bars

The sixth and final Consolation is in E major. It is initially marked Allegretto sempre cantabile and is the longest of the Consolations with a total of 100 measures. It is the most technically demanding of the Consolations.[8] The piece has been described by Carl Lachmund, one of Liszt's students, as more characteristic of Liszt's style than the more renowned D♭ major third Consolation.[35] Lachmund provides insight into the style in which Liszt played the Consolation, stating:

He [Liszt] played each note of the melody as if it were a significant poetic word, which effect was heightened in that he used the thumb for each one of these notes, and dropping his hand in a languid manner as he did this. He would dwell slightly here or there on a note as if entranced and then resume the motion without leaving a feeling that the time had been disturbed. I do not recall the particular measures in which he did this; but even then I felt that he might do it in a different place each time he played the piece.[36]

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ Lachmund 1999, p. 37.
  2. ^ Liszt 1995, p. 3.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Arnold 2002, p. 108.
  4. ^ Merrick 1987, p. 297.
  5. ^ a b Eckhardt 1992, p. 450, 453.
  6. ^ a b Eckhardt 1992, p. 449.
  7. ^ a b c Walker 1993, p. 145.
  8. ^ a b c d Magrath 1995, p. 203.
  9. ^ a b Hinson 2004, p. 32.
  10. ^ Merrick 1987, p. 9.
  11. ^ a b Hinson 2003, p. 12.
  12. ^ Sainte-Beuve 2004, p. 980.
  13. ^ Liszt 1850.
  14. ^ a b Mező & Kaczmarczyk 2011, p. 86.
  15. ^ a b Howard 1995.
  16. ^ Liszt 1992.
  17. ^ a b c d Liszt 1992, p. V.
  18. ^ Howard 1991, p. 4.
  19. ^ a b c Helm 1963, p. 102.
  20. ^ a b Howard 1995, p. 4.
  21. ^ Mező & Kaczmarczyk 2011, p. 25.
  22. ^ Howard 1991.
  23. ^ Howard 1995, p. 7.
  24. ^ Mező et al. 1981, p. 102.
  25. ^ Liszt 2006, p. 14.
  26. ^ Walker 1993, p. 146.
  27. ^ a b Banowetz 1992, p. 217.
  28. ^ Huneker 1911, p. 394.
  29. ^ Szász 2010, p. 10.
  30. ^ Searle 2013, p. 61.
  31. ^ a b Szász 2010, p. 1.
  32. ^ Szász 2010, p. 12.
  33. ^ a b Liszt 1995, p. 4.
  34. ^ Helm 1963, p. 103–105.
  35. ^ Lachmund 1999, p. 52.
  36. ^ Lachmund 1999, p. 53.

Sources

  • Arnold, Ben (2002). The Liszt Companion (illustrated ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313306893.
  • Banowetz, Joseph (1992). The Pianist's Guide to Pedaling (illustrated, reprint ed.). Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253207320.
  • Eckhardt, Mária (1992). "Zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Consolations von Franz Liszt". Studia Musicologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae (in German). 34 (3/4): 449–457. doi:10.2307/902295. JSTOR 902295.
  • Helm, Everett (1963). "A Newly Discovered Liszt Manuscript". Studia Musicologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 5 (1/4): 101–106. doi:10.2307/901533. JSTOR 901533.
  • Hinson, Maurice (2003). Anthology of romantic piano music: intermediate to early advanced works by 36 composers. Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 0739032879.
  • Hinson, Maurice (2004). The Pianist's Dictionary. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253216826.
  • Howard, Leslie (1991). The complete music for solo piano, Vol. 9 – Sonata, Elegies & Consolations (booklet). Franz Liszt. Hyperion Records.
  • Howard, Leslie (1995). The complete music for solo piano, Vol. 36 – Excelsior! (booklet). Franz Liszt. Hyperion Records.
  • Huneker, James (1911). Franz Liszt. C. Scribners's Sons.
  • Lachmund, Carl (1999). Arnold, Ben (ed.). Living with Liszt: From the Diary of Carl Lachmund, an American Pupil of Liszt, 1882–1884 (illustrated, revised ed.). Pendragon Press. ISBN 0945193564.
  • Liszt, Franz (1850). Consolations. Six pensées pöétiques pour le piano. Paris:Bureau central de musique. OCLC 498231708.
  • Liszt, Franz (1992). Heinemann, Heinemann; Eckhardt, Mária (eds.). Consolations – Original Version and First Edition of the Early Version (Urtext ed.). G. Henle Verlag. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  • Liszt, Franz (1995). Hinson, Maurice (ed.). Six Consolations, S.172 (2nd ed.). Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 1457443473.
  • Liszt, Franz (2006). Banowetz, Joseph (ed.). Twenty-one selected piano works. Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 0739043455.
  • Magrath, Jane (1995). The Pianist's Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature. Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 1457438976.
  • Merrick, Paul (1987). Revolution and Religion in the Music of Liszt. CUP Archive. ISBN 0521326273.
  • Mező, Imre; Gárdonyi, Zoltán; Szelényi, István; Sulyok, Imre (1981). Neue Liszt Ausgabe. Editio Musica Budapest. OCLC 497313146.
  • Mező, Imre; Kaczmarczyk, Adrienne (2011). New Liszt Edition. Editio Musica Budapest. Archived from the original on 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  • Sainte-Beuve, Charles-Augustin de (2004). Murray, Christopher John (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Romantic Era, 1760–1850. Vol. 1. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 157958361X.
  • Searle, Humphrey (2013). The Music of Liszt. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-78640-7.
  • Szász, Tibor (2010). "Liszt's Sonata in B minor and a Woman Composer's Fingerprint: The quasi Adagio theme and a Lied by Maria Pavlovna (Romanova)" (PDF). The Liszt Society Journal. 35. ISSN 0141-0792. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  • Walker, Alan (1993). Franz Liszt: The Weimar Years, 1848–1861, Volume 2. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801497213.


Further reading edit

  • Howard, Leslie (1999). The complete music for solo piano, Vol. 56 – Rarities, Curiosities, Album Leaves and Fragments (booklet). Franz Liszt. Hyperion Records.
  • Lamartine, Alphonse de (1836). Oeuvres de Lamartine de l'académie française: édition complète en un volume (in French). Wahlen.
  • Liszt, Franz (1850). Consolations, 2nd version, S.172 (First ed.). Breitkopf & Härtel.

External links edit

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