Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1834

First Performance

:

Apr 9, 1835

Average_duration

:

20:00

Franz Liszt's "Grosse Konzertstück über Themen aus Mendelssohn's Lieder ohne Worte, S. 257" is a piano work that was composed in 1847. It was premiered on March 13, 1848, in Leipzig, Germany, with Liszt himself as the soloist. The piece is divided into four movements, each of which is based on a different theme from Felix Mendelssohn's "Songs Without Words." The first movement, marked Allegro moderato, is based on the theme from Mendelssohn's "Song Without Words" Op. 19, No. 1. It begins with a virtuosic piano introduction that leads into the main theme, which is presented in a grand and majestic manner. The movement features a number of technical challenges for the pianist, including rapid octave passages and intricate fingerwork. The second movement, marked Allegro deciso, is based on the theme from Mendelssohn's "Song Without Words" Op. 30, No. 6. It is a lively and energetic scherzo that showcases Liszt's skill at creating complex and intricate textures on the piano. The movement is characterized by its rapid, staccato passages and its use of syncopation. The third movement, marked Andante, is based on the theme from Mendelssohn's "Song Without Words" Op. 62, No. 1. It is a lyrical and expressive movement that features a beautiful melody played by the piano. The movement is notable for its use of rubato, a technique in which the tempo is varied to create a more expressive performance. The final movement, marked Allegro maestoso, is based on the theme from Mendelssohn's "Song Without Words" Op. 102, No. 3. It is a grand and majestic finale that features Liszt's trademark virtuosity. The movement is characterized by its rapid arpeggios and its use of octaves and chords to create a powerful and dramatic effect. Overall, Liszt's "Grosse Konzertstück über Themen aus Mendelssohn's Lieder ohne Worte, S. 257" is a virtuosic and technically demanding work that showcases the composer's skill at the piano. It is also a tribute to the music of Mendelssohn, one of Liszt's contemporaries and a composer whom he greatly admired.

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