Franz Liszt - Héroïde funèbre (Symphonic Poem No. 8), S. 102 (2/2)

Héroïde funèbre, S. 102 (1849, revised 1854)

Hungarian composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) began sketching a "Revolutionary Symphony" in 1830 commemorating the events and the spirit of the July Revolution in Paris. He abandoned this work, however, only to return to it again in 1849, the year after the tumultuous uprisings throughout Europe in 1848, when liberal and communist reformers agitated the growing urban poor into attempting to overthrow despotic regimes in favour of democracy, various freedoms, economic reform and universal male suffrage. Although most regimes, notably the Habsburg dynasty, retained their power and suppressed the revolutionaries, many lives were lost and in many states the rift between the liberal intellegentsia and the autocratic ruling class became further entrenched.

In the Héroïde funèbre, the first movement of Liszt's planned Revolutionary Symphony, the composer created a general lament for the loss of life on both sides of a revolution. Although his sympathies tended towards the liberal side, in this work Liszt was concerned with paying tribute to the heroic actions of the reformers and the government's defenders alike. In the preface to this symphonic poem, Liszt wrote:

"In the wars and slaughter that follow one another, sinister games, whatever the colour of the flags proudly and boldly raised one against the other, over the two camps they fly steeped in heroic blood and unquenchable tears. It is for art to cast its transfiguring veil over the tomb of the brave, to encircle with its golden halo the dead and the dying that they may be envied by the living."

Keen listeners will find hints of the "Marseillaise" in this work.

Conductor: Kurt Masur
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

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[musicanth]

Part 1 is here: watch?v=CqNahr0Pg1M

[edwardpiercy]

Very much enjoyed this. You know 2011 is the Liszt Bicentennial. And I'm totally geared up for it. :)

[musicanth]

@edwardpiercy Yes, Lisztomania will be back next year! I'm looking forward to it too.

[Gargantupimp]

gj

[NeverAloneForever]

Yes, sir, I can hear a bit of the "Marseillaise" in this tone poem. I also hear some of it in the 1812 Overture. Of course, that goes without saying.