![]() He played a pivotal role in shaping the way the piano is performed and how music was composed for it during the Romantic era. He was one of the first pianists to perform from memory, which was a groundbreaking practice at the time. Liszt was known for his charismatic stage presence and showmanship. ![]() As the piece progresses, the confrontation between the piano and orchestra intensifies, culminating in a thrilling and dramatic conclusion, where death ultimately triumphs over the living. The music alternates between moments of intense fury and eerie calm, reflecting the contrasting emotions of mortality. Throughout the piece, Liszt showcases his exceptional piano technique, with rapid runs, thunderous chords, and virtuosic passages. (Liszt attended the first performance in 1830 of Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, with the Dies Irae being a major theme of the last movement, “Witches’ Sabbath.”) The piece begins with a dark, ominous, and percussive introduction, and then the piano enters with a series of variations (e.g., pensive, fiery, playful, majestic) on the “Dies Irae” or “Day of Wrath” chant, a medieval plainchant used for centuries in the Requiem Mass for the dead, and used by many other composers, including Mozart, Berlioz, Verdi, and Rachmaninoff. Composed in 1849 (revised in 18), it is based on the medieval tale of people from all walks of life summoned to dance with death itself. THE CONNECTION – Totentanz has not appeared on the Utah Symphony Masterworks Series since 2002 when Sergio Tiempo was featured as soloist and Keri-Lynn Wilson conducted.In 1838, when Liszt visited the Camposanto in Pisa, he was awed and inspired by “The Triumph of Death,” a monumental 14th century fresco. That work inspired his “Totentanz,” or “Danse Macabre,” a dramatic and virtuosic composition for piano and orchestra. And the Salvation Army was founded in England. The Matterhorn was summated for the first time. The Civil War ended in America but President Lincoln was assassinated just days later. Berlioz had already used the theme in his Symphonie Fantastique and Rachmaninoff would employ it often years later. Liszt claimed a place among good company with the choice. The piece was originally planned in 1838 and completed in 1849 it was then revised twice. The thematic basis for the music of Totentanz is the plainchant “Dies irae,” upon which several intense variations are set. Totentanz: Paraphrase on Dies ir, S.126, is the name of a symphonic piece for solo piano and orchestra by Franz Liszt, which is notable for being based on the Gregorian plainchant melody Dies Ir as well as for daring stylistic innovations. Whatever the case, Mediaeval Europe was obsessed with everything related to death and Romantic Era Europe was obsessed with everything related to Mediaeval Europe so macabre source material like Holbein’s work and the Pisa fresco would have been abundant and of timely interest during Liszt’s day. It has also been posited that the he met his muse in a series of illustrations by Hans Holbein with the more pertinent title of The Dance of Death (or Totentanz). Some, including at least one biographer, claim that Liszt was motivated by a 14th century fresco he saw while visiting the city of Pisa, a work known as The Triumph of Death. There are contrasting versions of the story concerning Liszt’s inspiration for Totentanz. This long gestation period was not abnormal for Liszt and his two piano concerti endured a similarly drawn out process. During his years as a touring virtuoso, Liszt steadily churned out a number of works meant to delight the public and display his. He had been playing for 27 years all over Europe, from Dublin to Constantinople and in just about every city in between. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. In 1847, Franz Liszt (1811-1886) retired from his career as a professional pianist. Liszt had begun work on Totentanz as far back as 1838 and did not consider it “completed” until 1849, a date that lost some of its significance after at least two revisions by the composer in the late 1850s. Shop Franz Liszt: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 Totentanz CD at Best Buy. THE MUSIC – The close timing of the premiere and the tonsure, though historically fascinating, was incidental. Intriguingly, his death-obsessed showpiece for piano and orchestra Totentanz had premiered just ten days earlier at The Hague. Though he never became a priest, he did officially enter the clergy’s lower orders on Apand was known as “Abbot” Liszt for the rest of his days. THE COMPOSER – FRANZ LISZT (1811-1886) – In the early 1860s, the crushing disappointments of Liszt’s personal life forced him to seriously consider the solace and rigor of monastic life. Instrumentation: 3 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, cymbals, triangle, tam-tam, strings
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