Liszt - Album d'un voyageur S156, Book I: Impressions et Poésies (Ashley Wass) 

The Album d'un voyageur consists of three sections; the first, Impressions and Poems, is comprised of seven pieces, five of which were revised and incorporated into the trilogy, Années de Pèlerinage. The first item, "Lyon," is dedicated to the philosopher Lamennais, who led a group of insurgent weavers in nineteenth century Lyon. A heroic march represents the struggle for social justice for the oppressed workers; the music is by turns rousing, violent, and passionate. "Le Lac de Wallenstadt" (The Lake of Wallenstadt) is a tranquil work that depicts the peaceful, bucolic scene of the lake, with the soothing rustling of its waves and its peaceful surroundings. "Au bord d'une source" (Beside a spring) offers a pastoral setting again, however, the tempo is livelier, but still unhurried. "Les cloches de G*****" (why did Liszt wish to conceal the name of Geneva?-at any rate, he revealed it in the revised version) may have less to do with the sound of bells than with the birth of Liszt's daughter Blandine, with its Romantic theme and brilliant writing. "La Valée d'Obermann" (The Valley of Obermann) is a deeper work and was inspired by the character from the 1804 novel of the same name by Etiene Jeane Senancour. Obermann wanders the country disconsolate over his misfortunes and the music depicts his depressed state of mind at the outset, but grows hopeful and promising as the work progresses. The "Chapelle de Guillaume Tell" (The Chapel of William Tell) tells of the famous Swiss hero. A hymn-like melody at the outset grows intense, but the music then turns triumphant and glorious. The exultant mood subsides, but the piece still ends in a positive vein. Finally, the first book comes to a simple conclusion with ‘Psaume-de l’église à Génève’-an elaboration of a melody by Louis Bourgeois (c1510-c1561) prefaced with the opening of Psalm 42: ‘Comme un cerf brame après des eaux courantes …’ (‘As the hart panteth after the water-brooks …’). Like ‘Lyon’, this piece was excluded from the revised collection.
Track timings:
(00:05) - Lyon
(07:30) - Le Lac de Wallenstadt [NOTE: The piece played here, although listed on the album as ‘Le Lac de Wallenstadt’ is actually ‘Au lac de Wallenstadt’ from the revised ‘Années de pèlerinage’ S160 set. Why this was played in the ‘Album d'un voyageur’ S156 set, I do not know, but there is at least very little difference between the two versions. If you'd like to hear the proper S156 version, Howard's Vol.20 of his complete Liszt recordings is recommended.]
(11:29) - Au bord d'une source
(15:53) - Les cloches de G(enève)
(28:22) - Vallée d'Obermann
(43:20) - La chapelle de Guillaume Tell
(50:30) - Psaume