Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1854 - 1856

Publication Date

:

1856

Average_duration

:

19:38

Franz Liszt's 'Héroïde funèbre, S. 642' is a solo piano piece composed in 1849. It was premiered in the same year in Weimar, Germany. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 15 minutes. The first movement, titled 'La lugubre gondola', is a mournful and somber piece that is characterized by its slow and melancholic melody. The piece is inspired by the death of Richard Wagner's wife, Minna, and Liszt's own premonitions of death. The movement is marked by a sense of foreboding and a feeling of impending doom. The second movement, titled 'Octave', is a more lively and energetic piece that provides a stark contrast to the first movement. The movement is characterized by its use of octaves and its fast-paced, virtuosic passages. The movement is meant to represent the struggle between life and death, with the octaves representing the struggle between opposing forces. The final movement, titled 'Funérailles', is a powerful and dramatic piece that is meant to represent a funeral procession. The movement is characterized by its use of grand chords and its sweeping, majestic melody. The movement is meant to evoke a sense of grandeur and solemnity, as if the listener is witnessing a grand funeral procession. Overall, 'Héroïde funèbre, S. 642' is a powerful and emotional piece that showcases Liszt's mastery of the piano. The piece is characterized by its use of contrasting movements and its ability to evoke a range of emotions in the listener. It is a testament to Liszt's skill as a composer and his ability to create music that is both technically challenging and emotionally resonant.

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