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Royalty Free Music > Public Domain Music > Composers > Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Franz Liszt was a skilled Hungarian pianist and composer responsible for many piano sonatas and concertos that have become standard repertoire for musicians throughout the world. Liszt was born in Doborjan, Hungary near the town of Sopron on October 22, 1811. During that time, Hungary was part of the Austrian Empire and remained so until 1920. Although he is often described as Hungarian, both of Liszt's parents were of Austrian descent, and no historians have ever traced Hungarian lineage to the composer. In fact, neither Liszt nor his parents ever fully learned the Hungarian language.
Like so many other renowned composers, Liszt's musical talent emerged at a very young age, and he was a master sight-reader. His father began to teach him music lessons when he was six years old, and local aristocrats capable of financially fostering his musical abilities took an interest and funded trips to Vienna and Paris with his family. Later journals and letters display his regret for this travel, because it is most responsible for him not fully learning the Hungarian language; he was, in fact a French speaker.
While in Vienna during his youth, Liszt was trained in piano technique by renowned teacher Carl Czerny. His father had requested composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel, but could not afford his expensive fees. Mozart's talented rival Antonio Salieri had a profound influence on Liszt's compositional skills and helped him discover his own musical style.
Liszt established friendships with many of his contemporaries, including piano master Frederic Chopin and French composer Camille Saint-Saens. While an intense rivalry destroyed Liszt's friendship with Chopin, he remained close with the latter French composer, who dedicated a symphony to him. Piano virtuoso Liszt made a profound impression on master Romantic composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who reportedly kissed him after a performance he gave on April 13, 1823 because he was so impressed with the young his talent.
In 1823, Liszt left the confines of Vienna to tour. While in Paris, he was inspired by a concert given by great violinist Paganini and renewed his desire to become a master pianist. During this time, he spent many hours alone, practicing sometimes for more than 10 hours per day. In 1832, he composed the "Great Bravura Fantasy on Paganini's La Companella," a short piano piece that replicated the themes heard in Paganini's famous etudes. He also composed his masterwork "12 Grandes Etudes," considered a standard of piano music.
Liszt studied and played in Vienna and in Paris for the majority of his early life, and traveled avidly through Europe giving memorable concerts. He earned accolades everywhere he went by composers and performers in Europe. He also spent a great deal of time and money helping to improve the life of those less fortunate, including disaster victims, orphans and many students to whom he gave free lessons. He was also a major contributor to the Beethoven Memorial Fund.
During Liszt's life, he traveled in a circle of composers, artists and writers, including Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann, Richard Wagner, the painter Ingres and authors Heine, Lamennais and Baudelaire, who actually wrote a prose poem inspired by Liszt. He was a composer whose talent crossed cultural lines, and influenced all elements of the arts profoundly.
Liszt actively gave piano performances until 1848, and began to conduct at court concerts, on special theatre occasions and gave lessons to many composers. He also wrote a great deal of prose during this time, including articles in support of the music of Berlioz and Wagner and was able to make their music more widely performed.
Liszt fully retired to Rome in 1861 and joined the Franciscan order four years later. He traveled between Rome, Weimar and Budapest, giving free piano lessons during the summer months and continued to attend major music festivals. From 1876 until his death in Bayreuth on July 31, 1886 as a result of pneumonia, he spent several days per month teaching at the Hungarian Conservatoire of Budapest.
Liszt composed a large catalogue of piano music during his long life, including important works such as the Piano Sonata in B minor and two piano concertos. He also transcribed many operas and famous symphonies, along with Paganini's works and the lieders of Franz Schubert into piano music. All of his compositions are considered some of the most challenging material in the world of piano.
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