Liszt, Apres une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata Flashcards
Who was Dante? What is the piece “about”?
- Italian poet
- piece dedicated to Divina Commedia
- also dedicated to Hugo
What are some ways that it articulates extra-musical ideas?
- Tritone
- D major
What is a fantasia?
- Improvisatory theme
- unification of multisectional parts
- structural form
- greater use thematic material
- virtuosic
How can the “Dante Sonata” be understood in formal terms?
- Multisectional (structural) design
- loose development
How does it compare to traditional conceptualisations of sonata form movement? What
aspects of the sonata principle are retained/ modified and what ones are rejected?
- Multi function form
- Thematic transformation
- virtuosity
- triumph & glory
- structural/linked
How is the tritone motive used as a unifying element or marker in the organisation of the
sonata form of the piece? (Look at where it enters in the sonata form sections)
Tritone is symbolized as hell particularly in theme I
Identify how theme II is presented in its three different transformations/ iterations in the
development section. How is its character altered from its initial appearance?
- Highly agitated
- chromatic idea in D minor
How is the character of theme III altered in its first appearance in the development (136)
compared to its first appearance as S (103)?
- modulation of D major
- virtuosic
- angelic
- triumphant glory
Considering Liszt’s use of thematic material within the context of a loose sonata structure, would you say his approach was driven more by content or by form?
Loose form, programmatic (important)
How do you think that this was related to his virtuosic improvisatory practices?
Related to the evolutionary collection of musical ideas.
Revised the sonata, writing for prosperity
