On the 22d day of October, 1811, Franz Liszt, the greatest pianist of
the last half century, was born at Raiding, in Hungary, and the entire
musical world was united in celebrating his seventieth birthday, which
took place this year.
What can be more appropriate than to take a look at the past and
recall some of the important events of Liszt's so very interesting
life? To recall his first appearance as a "wonder" child in his native
town, the blessing and kiss he received a few years later from the
immortal Beethoven, his great triumphs in the Paris salons and the
defeat of his rival Thalberg. After the appearance of the violin
virtuoso Paganini, he resolved to attain the highest development of
his musical genius and to become so world-renowned as none has been
before him, and in this was successful. He has not only maintained his
standing as the greatest master of modern piano virtuosos, but has had
the greatest influence on his followers and scholars, Taussig, v.
Bulow, Mr. and Mme. Bronsart, Menter, and other younger and older
pianists who have had the benefits of his instruction for a greater or
less length of time, so that it can be justly claimed that the
majority of our present virtuosos owe their success and fame directly
or indirectly to the abilities of Liszt.
Liszt is endowed with that great gift of treating every individual in
the manner most favorable to the development of its traces of artistic
ability and desires, and this accounts for his wonderful results as
instructor and master.
[Illustration: FRANZ LISZT.]
But no picture of Liszt would be perfect without a _résumé_ or
recapitulation of his compositions.
After a most perfect transposition and preparation of numerous works
of Beethoven, Schubert, and Berlioz, and after making their
compositions popular and introducing numerous valuable novelties in
the art of playing piano, he produced his "Symphonische Dichtungen"
(Symphonic Poems).
These highly dramatic compositions, in which he follows Berlioz and
often produces the most astonishing effects of sounds, however, did
not find entire approbation with the public, and did not succeed in
popularizing themselves. But that fact can be recorded in his favor
that every programme containing Liszt's "Dante," or Faust Symphony, or
"Mazeppa," receives more than ordinary attention from the public. The
same is the case with his solo songs with piano accompaniment, in
which, however, ingenious details often tend to drown the original
melody. Of his quartets, some have become highly popular with singing
societies and form part of their _repertoire_. The crowning point of
Liszt's compositions is to be found in sacred music, for instance in
his mass known as the "Grauer Messe," composed for the dedication of
the Cathedral at Grau, in Hungary; the Crowning mass, and his two
oratorios, "Die heilige Elisabeth" and "Christus." But even they
caused a decided difference of opinion; and if some knew no bounds for
their enthusiasm, others could not find an end for their condemnation.
Such works should not be treated too lightly, and a thorough and
impartial examination will show that a place of honor must be accorded
to them in the history of music. Since the "Heilige Elisabeth" has
been produced in several cities of Germany it has been viewed more
favorably and disarmed many of the opponents.
But Liszt also belongs to the literary fraternity, and his works,
published by Breitkopf & Hartel, contain some of the best ever written
in regard to art and artists. They were mostly written in elegant
French originally, and relate to the social position of artists and
the state of the art of music in certain cities or even an entire
country. A part of his works is devoted to the music of gypsies, and
to a true and honest history of the life of his friend Chopin.
Then again we find him preparing the path to the hearts of the public
for Berlioz, Schumann, Wagner, Robert Franz, and Meyerbeer. Liszt has
certainly collected enormous sums of money in his successful career,
but as fast as he reaps his earnings he gives them to those needing
assistance, and it is almost entirely to him that the inhabitants of
Bonn, on the Rhine, owe their beautiful Beethoven Monument, and during
the last years Liszt has been untiring in giving concerts and
collecting money for a monument for the greatest of the great, Johann
Sebastian Bach.
Liszt is an artist in every sense of the word, and we should all wish
that he will remain among us for many years more.
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