Liszt for Children

 

When he was young, he composed such difficult pieces for himself that only he was able to play them.

Let’s listen to music! Chromatic Galopp

During concerts, he played with such huge vigour that the piano strings often broke. So, instead of one instrument, two or three pianos stood on stage, so that Liszt was able to continue performing on another piano in case a string broke on the first one.

Caricature of Liszt playing the piano

Franz Liszt travelled a lot. He played at thousands of concerts all across Europe, from Spain to Russia and from England to Turkey. His journeys sometimes lasted days or even whole weeks, but he still had to practise every day! To avoid bothering the other travellers, he used a dummy piano so he could practise even while travelling.

Let’s listen to music! - Years of Pilgrimage, Switzerland, Beside a Spring

He knew countless famous people personally: composers such as Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, and Wagner; painters and sculptors, among them Mihály Munkácsy and Alajos Strobl. He also met kings and queens, such as Napoleon III, Queen Victoria, Emperor Franz Joseph I, and Tsar Nicholas I.

The sitting statue of Liszt by Alajos Strobl

His admirers frequently honoured him with priceless gifts. He received a silver baton, a silver music stand, a silver sword, and even two Russian bears.

He was presented with various musical instruments from abroad, for example from Paris and America.

Liszt’s American harmonium and one of his pianos built by Bösendorfer

However, Liszt did not only receive — he was also a giver! He helped others a lot. He often gave charity concerts to collect money for good causes, such as for the victims of the great flood in Pest in 1838.

No wonder that people were fans of this generous man and pianist, who as a young man was like a star of today. Everyone wanted a memento from him. There were even people who collected his locks of hair.

Liszt was not only a virtuoso pianist, but also a conductor. So, besides the piano, the orchestra was also important in his life. In addition to conducting, he composed numerous orchestral pieces too.

Let’s listen to music! Mazeppa

He even transcribed orchestral pieces for the piano, trying to create on a single instrument the same sound effects that a whole orchestra could produce.

Let’s listen to music! Beethoven: Syimphony 5, Movement 1, Liszt’s transcription

This Hungarian-born composer, a giant of the 19th century, left a wide variety of music. It is interesting, however, that in his own time people did not like his music very much. Liszt’s musical style was new and unusual for them, so they were not used to this modern sound.

Let’s listen to music! Bagetelle without Tonality

Liszt was not only a pianist, composer, and conductor, but also a piano teacher. He taught many talented pupils throughout his whole life. In Budapest, he founded the Academy of Music, which was housed in the building that is now the Liszt Museum. It was also the flat where Liszt lived.

The Old Academy of Music, that is, the Liszt Museum

The Academy of Music

For Liszt, religion was always important. What is more, he considered becoming a priest already at the age of 18. Eventually, when he grew older (in 1865, at the age of 54), he became a member of the Catholic Church. He composed a lot of sacred music, for example Christ and the Gran Mass.

Let’s listen to music! Pater Noster from the oratorio Christ 

Towards the end of the life of the former star pianist and composer, whose music had always been vivid and energetic, he began to express deeper emotions in his music. Through his notes, he often painted quiet, dark, or even sombre moods. He died in 1886 in Germany.

Let’s listen to music! Grey clouds

Franz Liszt was so renowned that his name does not simply appear only in the concert repertoire.

• The Academy of Music in Budapest (the Franz Liszt Academy of Music) was named after him.
• The same is true of the Hungarian international airport — no wonder: Liszt travelled a lot and was truly international.
• Finally, even an animal is called after him: the Liszt monkey.