Liszt : ' Ave Maria ' and ' Pater noster ' from ' Harmonies poétiques et religieuses '

The less flamboyant pieces from "Harmonies poétiques et religleuses" (1853 version) are not so often played, and I can appreciate that some might find their sentiment saccharine. Given their religious connections, I think the best preparation to play these pieces is to watch on TV some of the special services from the Vatican broadcast on EWTN and elsewhere, and listen to the unsophisticated but fervent singing of the choirs there. It is a world away from the Anglican church music with which I am more familiar, but close, I'm sure, to what Liszt would have heard on his visits to Rome. These two pieces (along with 'Hymne de l'enfant à son réveil') are transcriptions of choral works from the 1840s. I think they make a good pairing, and suit the medium, as they would surely have been intended for domestic performance in an intimate setting. Indeed, the 'Pater noster' ('Our Father, who art in heaven....) is in the style of a Gregorian chant, and both pieces have the Latin texts printed over the score (although, in the case of the Ave Maria, the fit is not always obvious). Shorn of the virtuoso figurations associated with Liszt, these pieces instead present the musical challenge of capturing the intended devotional atmosphere.
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• classical
• hungarian
• magyar

[Martel211996]

anyone ever tell you, that you look like larry david?

[PSearPianist]

@Martel211996 Not that I know of!

[Asura8735]

so good :D 5/5 stars!

[PSearPianist]

Thank you very much!

[52dinosaur]

Yes, a beautiful performance - as a pianist myself (but nowhere near as accomplished as you), I particularly like watching the hands and overall performance as well as just listening - plus your "blurb" on these pieces was very interesting

[PSearPianist]

Thank you very much for your kind comment. I often get asked to do instructional videos - where I would put the camera overhead so that people can apparently learn the pieces by watching where I put my hands - but have not figured out how to do that convincingly!

[52dinosaur]

No, I wouldn't like to see that - I'm sure there's a place for them as teaching videos but for me yours are lovely the way they are - so I can just sit and watch and listen and let the music flow over me

[PSearPianist]

Thank you!

[Babejuda]

I agree with RollaArtis' comment and Phillip's response to it.

In addition, you played it beautifully.

[PSearPianist]

That's an apt description of the pieces.