Liszts' Benediction.

[JK]

As people may or may not know by now, I'm not the biggest fan of Liszt. However I have been learning his Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude for a while now and can't help but feel that it has to be one his best and certainly most beautiful pieces. It comes from a set of works called Harmonies poetiques et religieuses, which seems to be less well known than a lot of his other works. What do people think of this piece, have you played it? And how many people have heard of or know this set of pieces?

[donjuan]

YES!!! Finally!!! someone on the forum mentioned the Poetic and Religious Harmonies!! I thought I was the only one who loved them.  I love the Benediction of God in Solitude.  Other pieces from the set I adore are Andante Lagrimoso, Invocation, Funerailles, and Ave Maria.  I havent formally learned them..But I sightread through (slowly) some of them.  I am not a religious person, but I somehow feel enlightened when I listen to the immortal music.  You have excellent taste in music!!  Have you heard Claudio Arrau's recording of the Benediction?  Leslie Howard?

donjuan

[DarkWind]

As people may or may not know by now, I'm not the biggest fan of Liszt.

Wrong, donjuan is . Anyways, I haven't paid much attention to these pieces, but I really like Funerailles. I might one day print out these pieces since I only have them in digital form.

[Allan]

Wrong again...........I am the biggest Liszt fan on this forum.    But Donjuan is a close second.      I have been a fan of Liszt since I was a kid!!  I have played his music (not all of it, of course) on both piano and organ.   Donjuan does, however, post a lot more often than I do and I like his taste in music.  I, too, enjoy the "Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude."   I have a recording of it in the cd entitled "Liszt vs. Thalberg."  The cd recreates the music played by Liszt and Thalberg in their famous 1837 piano "duel."  What would you pay for a ticket if you could go back in time and attend THAT concert!

[JK]

http://donjuan wrote:

You have excellent taste in music!!  Have you heard Claudio Arrau's recording of the Benediction?  Leslie Howard?

Thankyou!! This piece is certainly under played and recorded. I haven't yet heard Arraus' recording but it is top of my list at the moment.

Also there is a section at the end of the benediction marked andante semplice et espressivo, the melody that follows is unbelievably beautiful and I have a feeling that it's from a hymn because it's not from any other part of the piece. Does anyone have ideas where this might have come from?

[thracozaag]

As people may or may not know by now, I'm not the biggest fan of Liszt. However I have been learning his Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude for a while now and can't help but feel that it has to be one his best and certainly most beautiful pieces. It comes from a set of works called Harmonies poetiques et religieuses, which seems to be less well known than a lot of his other works. What do people think of this piece, have you played it? And how many people have heard of or know this set of pieces?

 An absolutely luminous, gorgeous piece.  Best recording I've heard is Ernst Levy's.  

koji

[DarkWind]

I'm the biggest Ravel fan. Ever. Well, I'll check out this Benediction when I get back from lunch and stuff today. Which number is it?

[JK]

No.3 ,I think!!  

[donjuan]

I'm the biggest Ravel fan. Ever. Well, I'll check out this Benediction when I get back from lunch and stuff today. Which number is it?

It is No.3 of "Harmonies Poetique et Religieuses (1845-52)"

[donjuan]

http://donjuan wrote:


Thankyou!! This piece is certainly under played and recorded. I haven't yet heard Arraus' recording but it is top of my list at the moment.

Also there is a section at the end of the benediction marked andante semplice et espressivo, the melody that follows is unbelievably beautiful and I have a feeling that it's from a hymn because it's not from any other part of the piece. Does anyone have ideas where this might have come from?

Ah, yes, that part!  It reminds me of Mozart, for some reason...

My favorite part of it is "poco a poco animato il tempo" a few pages in.  I love it because it returns later in a different setting.  

Allen:

I am the biggest Liszt fan on this forum.

 
How can you prove that?  I almost ONLY listen to Liszt, and I own 90-95% of Dover's Liszt sheet music collection.  My teacher is getting sick of me talking about Liszt, Liszt, Liszt, blah...blah.......  but, I dont play organ, so I guess you could be ahead of me...

donjuan