LISZT: Showoff or Genius?

[donjuan]

Hi Ted,
Thank you for providing resources.  I also heard about Clara Schumann's comments about Liszt- He did, after all dedicate his Sonata in B-Minor to Robert Schumann.  Robert never heard it-But Clara did, and she hated the piece.
donjuan

[Allan]

Genius, of course.  Did you know that Liszt also wrote one of the great pieces of the 19th century for organ!?  His "Ad Nos" Fantasy and Fuge is a real blockbuster.  Check out Virgil Fox's live performance in the cd "Soli Deo Gloria."

[donjuan]

Genius, of course.  Did you know that Liszt also wrote one of the great pieces of the 19th century for organ!?  His "Ad Nos" Fantasy and Fuge is a real blockbuster.  Check out Virgil Fox's live performance in the cd "Soli Deo Gloria."

Hi Allan,
that is a great piece- ground breaking for any organ player.  Especially interesting knowing that Liszt is not an organ composer usually.  I prefer the organ original version to Liszt's version for piano.
donjuan

[Allan]

Good point, Donjuan (catchy name, by the way).  I have both a piano and a three manual Allen organ in my home.  When I play  the Ad Nos it blows away my fellow piano playing friends!  Some who are skeptical of Liszt are suddenly drawn to the power of the music of this great composer.  By the way, the "Ad Nos" was Liszt's first stab at organ writing and in length and effect, it compares favorably with his b minor sonata.

[donjuan]

Hi Allan,
Ive never heard the term "Ad nos" before.  Are we both talking about the fastasy and Fugue on the Theme BACH?

Do you enjoy playing the organ?  Ive always wanted to play, but ended up playing piano.
donjuan

[Allan]

Donjuan, no it is not the same piece.  The B-A-C-H is a fine work which I have played.  The piece I am talking about is the Fantasy and Fuge on the Choral, "Ad Nos, Ad Salutaren Undam."   This is a  greater and more monumental work than B-A-C-H.  It is definitely his greatest work for organ and, as I said, one of the great pieces for the organ.  It requires Lisztain technique, for sure.  Camille Saint-Saens (himself an organist) said that "Ad nos was the greatest piece written for organ.........since Bach."   This work truly brought symphonic proportions to the organ and was a precurser to composers like Franck, Widor, etc.

The main theme was taken from the Choral of G. Meyerbeer from his opera, "Le Prophete."   All    Liszt fans MUST hear this work played by a virutoso artist (again, check the Fox recording on the great Aeolian-Skinner organ at the Riverside Church in New York.. the crowd goes crazy).  Although not  always well known amoung musicians, it is considered a jewel for many organist.

By the way, the memoirs of the great Marcel Dupre contain an account of Liszt.   Saint-Saens and Charles Widor were present when Liszt "tried out" the Trocedero organ (that wonderful French organ).   It is said that Liszt spread those hands of his on that organ and improvised in a way that was absolutely thrilling.  What I would give to have been there!

Another Liszt story--- once, before the start of a concert featuring Wagner's music, Wagner said to Liszt, "Pa pa, you must forgive me as I have borrowed rather heavily from you."

As for playing the organ, the piano and organ have, of course, the greatest repertoire of any instrument.  The organ is a terrific challenge to play truly well (like the piano).  I really can't compare it to the piano since it is a different experience.  When my piano friends come to my house they are shocked to find an organ and they are mezmorized by the sound and the music (Bach, Liszt, Vierne, Durufle').  I have a greater dynamic range than even an orchestra .  I also enjoy playing for young people who have only been exposed to rock and roll.  When you play a Bach fugue with a 32' pedal stop at your control, Bach is the coolest thing on earth! It is thrilling to know that there is a audience out there just waiting to be moved by the "King of Instruments."

[thracozaag]

Genius, of course.  Did you know that Liszt also wrote one of the great pieces of the 19th century for organ!?  His "Ad Nos" Fantasy and Fuge is a real blockbuster.  Check out Virgil Fox's live performance in the cd "Soli Deo Gloria."

 I'm definitely planning on learning the transcription of this sometime in the future.  Tremendous piece.

koji