Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1837 - 1838

Publication Date

:

1838

Average_duration

:

6:48

Franz Liszt's 'Der Wanderer (I & II) (after Schubert, D. 138a), S. 558/11 & S. 558bis/11' is a piano transcription of Franz Schubert's song 'Der Wanderer' (D. 493). Liszt composed the transcription in 1846, and it premiered in the same year. The piece consists of two movements, each of which is based on a different stanza of Schubert's song. The first movement, 'Der Wanderer', is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood. Liszt's transcription captures the essence of Schubert's original composition, with its haunting melody and somber harmonies. The piece begins with a simple, yet poignant, melody in the right hand, accompanied by a gentle arpeggio in the left hand. As the piece progresses, the melody becomes more complex, with Liszt adding his own flourishes and embellishments to the original material. The movement ends with a quiet, introspective coda, which fades away into silence. The second movement, 'Auf der Bruck', is more lively and energetic than the first. It is based on the second stanza of Schubert's song, which describes the wanderer's journey across a bridge. Liszt's transcription captures the sense of movement and momentum in the music, with its driving rhythms and virtuosic flourishes. The piece begins with a fast, flowing melody in the right hand, accompanied by a pulsing bass line in the left hand. As the piece progresses, the melody becomes more complex, with Liszt adding his own virtuosic embellishments to the original material. The movement ends with a triumphant coda, which brings the piece to a thrilling conclusion. Overall, 'Der Wanderer (I & II)' is a masterful transcription by Franz Liszt, which captures the essence of Schubert's original composition while adding his own unique voice to the music. The piece is characterized by its haunting melodies, somber harmonies, and virtuosic flourishes, and it remains a beloved work in the piano repertoire to this day.

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