Franz Liszt, a prominent figure in the music industry during the Romantic Movement in 19th century Europe, was celebrated for his artistic talents as a music composer, pianist, and conductor. Additionally, Liszt actively engaged in philanthropic work and supported Hungarian nationalism.
Birth, Personal Life, and Death
On October 22, 1811, Franz Liszt was born to Adam Liszt and Anna Liszt in Sopron County within the Kingdom of Hungary. Adam Liszt, his father, was a highly respected musician proficient in playing the cello, guitar, violin, and piano (Gibbs & Dana 5).
He also served as the secretary to Prince Nicholas Esterhazy. At age six, Franz began showing a strong fascination for his father's musical pursuits. Adam Liszt began instructing Franz in piano playing when the young Litsz was still only nine years old. Nonetheless, he further enriched his piano exp
...ertise by taking lessons in Vienna from an artist named Carl Czerny. Additionally, he commenced composing songs in a rudimentary manner around the age of eight.
Similarly, Franz Liszt expanded his understanding of composition under the guidance of Antonio Salierri, a music director at the Viennese court who generously provided him with free tutoring. In his personal life, Liszt's marriage was not particularly glamorous. He was initially involved with Countess Marie d’ Agoult and they had three children together (Gibbs & Dana 31). However, the relationship ended in 1834 while they were in Kiev.
Franz Liszt's constant European tours led him to meet Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. This new relationship inspired him to settle down and devote more time to his musical talents. However, his later years were full of misfortune. In 1862, he experienced the loss of his son Daniel, closely followed
by the demise of his daughter (Gibbs ; Dana 50). Furthermore, his rival Johannes Brahms published a highly critical article during the period known as the war of romanticism. Conversely, Franz Liszt's plans to marry Carolyne in Rome were abruptly shattered.
Franz Litsz became disillusioned and moved to the Madonna del Rosario monastery on the outskirts of Rome in 1863. While there, he received a traditional monk haircut but continued his musical career. Eventually, he established the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest. Unfortunately, Franz passed away at the age of 74 in Bayreuth, Germany on July 31, 1886. It is believed that he died from pneumonia and was buried in August of the same year (Gibbs & Dana 114).
At just 10 years old, Franz Litsz began performing concerts. When he turned 12, both Franz and his father traveled to Paris with hopes of entering the Paris conservatory. However, their admission was denied due to their foreign status (Gibbs & Dana 23).
Franz Liszt's father enlisted music composer Ferdinando Paer to teach his son before his own demise in 1826. During this period, Franz Liszt composed the renowned opera song, Don Sanche. The loss of his father deeply impacted Franz Liszt and led him to take a temporary break from the music scene, focusing instead on studying art and religion. Throughout his career, Franz Liszt created countless piano transcriptions covering a wide range of musical genres.
The Legacy of Franz Liszt
Gibbs ; Dana (85) state that Franz Liszt composed around 70 songs with self-composed piano accompaniments. He also created symphonic poems and engaged in various literary works, including the acclaimed article 'de la situation des
artistes', which means 'In the situation of artists'.
According to Gibbs ; Dana (8), Franz Liszt was a renowned music teacher in the 19th century, specializing in piano.
During his piano lessons, Franz Liszt taught renowned pianist Hermann Cohen, also known as Puzzy. Liszt taught Cohen how to effectively blend various stylistic elements such as metaphors, anecdotes, and wit. Interestingly, Liszt did not charge any fees for these lessons since he considered them to be private students. A major milestone took place in June 1871 when Hungarian King Franz Joseph 1 invited Liszt to settle in Budapest, Hungary and granted him the prestigious role of Crown Councilor.
Under the guidance of Franz Liszt, multiple musical establishments were coordinated. These include the National Musical Theatre and music schools. In 1875, Franz Liszt assumed the role of President at the Royal Academy of Music. This institution was established in that same year with assistance from Franz Liszt and his colleagues Ferenc Erkel, Kornel Abranyi, and Robert Volkmann (Gibbs ; Dana 96). Despite his passing, Franz Liszt's impact on music will remain timeless, surpassing his own lifetime.
He is an extraordinary pianist and composer who has gifted this world.
Work Cited
- Gibbs, Christopher H, and Dana A. Gooley. Franz Liszt and His World. Princeton: Princeton University Press, (2006).
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