Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1847

Publication Date

:

1970

Average_duration

:

2:40

Franz Liszt's "Comment, disaient-ils" is the second piece in the second book of his "Buch der Lieder" (Book of Songs), S. 535. It was composed in 1844 and premiered in Weimar, Germany in the same year. The piece is a setting of a poem by French poet Victor Hugo, and is part of Liszt's larger collection of songs based on Hugo's poetry. The piece is in three movements, with the first and third being slow and contemplative, while the second is faster and more energetic. The first movement begins with a simple, mournful melody in the left hand, while the right hand plays a series of arpeggios that gradually build in intensity. The second movement is marked by a driving rhythm and a more complex melody, with the left hand playing a series of rapid octaves. The third movement returns to the mournful mood of the first, with a simple melody in the right hand and a series of descending chords in the left. Overall, "Comment, disaient-ils" is a deeply emotional and introspective piece, reflecting the themes of love, loss, and longing that are common in Hugo's poetry. Liszt's use of simple, repetitive melodies and complex harmonies creates a sense of tension and release that is characteristic of his style. The piece is also notable for its use of chromaticism, which was a hallmark of Liszt's later works.

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