Liszt composed the set of piano pieces "Weihnachtsbaum" (Christmas Tree) for piano solo from 1873 to 1876, and dedicated it to his granddaughter Daniela von Bülow (1860-1940). There were further revisions and a piano duet arrangement by Liszt between from 1874 to 1881.
The work sits somewhat outside Liszt's standard oevre in its simplicity, and stands just on the cusp looking out at the strange experiments of Liszt's late style. Each movement is more of a fragment than a finished whole, exploring different aspects of Christmas from a highly original set of perspectives.
The suite falls into three broad sections: First is a set of 4 pieces based on Christmas Song, perhaps the "religious" side of Christmas. Second is a set of five more secular character pieces associated with Christmas, concluding with the best-known work from the suite "Evening Bells", which is forward-looking in its impressionistic atmosphere. And last are three dance-based pieces, highly enigmatically linked to Christmas: "Ehemals" (In Former Times), "Hungarian" and "Polish". The first is a nostaglic waltz, the second an abrasive and abrupt march, entitled "Hungarian", the third a emotionally ambiguous mazurka entitled "Polish": perhaps these last two are linked to (Hungarian) Liszt's romantic relationship with the (Polish) princess Sayn-Wittgenstein.
This is an arrangement of the full suite for modern symphony orchestra. I am keen to get this performed. It strikes me that it might work well as a ballet as well as a concert work. If you are interested in performing this, please get in touch.
I. Psallite: Altes Weihnachtslied (Psallite: Old Christmas song)
II. O heilige Nacht! Weihnachtslied nach einer alten Weise (O holy night! Christmas song on an old theme)
III. Die Hirten an der Krippe: In dulci jubilo (The shepherds at the manger: In dulci jubilo)
IV. Adeste Fideles: Gleichsam als Marsch der heiligen drei Könige (Adeste Fideles: as if it be the march of the Three Wise Men)
V. Scherzoso: Man zündet die Kerzen des Baumes an (Scherzoso: Lighting the Candles on the Tree)
VI. Carillon
VII. Schlummerlied (Slumber Song)
VIII. Altes provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (Old Provençal Christmas Song)
IX. Abendglocken (Evening Bells)
X. Ehemals (In former times)
XI. Ungarisch (Hungarian)
XII. Polnisch (Polish)
2Fl, 2Ob, 2Cl, 2Bsn, 4Hn, 3Tpt, 3Tbn, Tba, Perc, Hrp, Str
Score: www.scoreexchan...
3 окт 2024
