Franz Liszt

Question 1

Where and when was Franz Liszt born?

Answer 1

1811 in Raiding Hungary, just outside of Vienna Austria

Question 2

How was Liszt a game-changer for the culture of piano performance?

Answer 2

Played from memory, sat with profile to the audience, and referred to concerts as “recitals”.

Question 3

Name three things Liszt contributed to the development of modern piano technique

Answer 3

Used unprecedented bravura effects:

• extreme registers
• wide leaps
• thunderous octaves
• rapid repeated notes

Question 4

Describe Liszt’s harmonic language

Answer 4

• chromatic and progressive

- favoured mediant relationships over the circle of fifths

Question 5

Name three piano works/collections by Liszt

Answer 5

19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, transcriptions of Lieder by Schubert, transcriptions of symphonies by Beethoven

Question 6

Name a work for piano and orchestra by Liszt

Answer 6

Totentanz

Question 7

Name a symphonic poem by Liszt

Answer 7

Les preludes

Question 8

Name 2 program symphonies by Liszt

Answer 8

Faust, Dante

Question 9

Give three points describing Liszt’s career during his Concert Pianist stage

Answer 9

• presented an historic solo piano recital that was the first of its kind
• level of fame comparable to that of modern rock stars
• amazing technical prowess, sight reading skills, and charisma

Question 10

Describe Liszt’s connection with Weimar and what he did during this phase of his career (5 points)

Answer 10

• was already appointed Grand Ducal Director of Music Extraordinary
• worked as a conductor and music director
• conducted Wagner’s first performance of Lohengrin
• composed symphonic poems and piano concertos
• developed the “master class” format

Question 11

During the “Late Years”, which three cities did Liszt divide his time?

Answer 11

• Rome
• Weimar
• Budapest

Question 12

During the “Late Years” describe three personal events in Liszt’s life

Answer 12

• did not marry Carolyn although her husband passed away
• his son, daughter and mother died
• he went through semi-retirement and pursued religious study in the Catholic church

Question 13

Describe Liszt’s relationship with the Princess Carolyne

Answer 13

• they lived openly although she was married to someone else

- home was a hotspot for artists, musicians and creatives

Question 14

Liszt was credited as the inventor of the ___________

Answer 14

program symphony

Question 15

name two contemporary influences

Answer 15

Chopin’s poetic, lyrical style

Violinist Nicolo Paganini’s virtuosity