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Weihnachtsbaum (Liszt)

January 16, 2023

Weihnachtsbaum (English: Christmas Tree; French: Arbre de Noël) is a suite of 12 pieces written by Franz Liszt in 1873–76, with revisions in 1881. The suite exists in versions for solo piano and piano four-hands. Weihnachtsbaum does not demand great virtuosity, and it has been described as a distant relation of Schumann's Kinderszenen and Debussy's Children's Corner. It occupies an unusual place in Liszt's output, and it may be for these reasons that it has received relatively little attention from performers.

Background

Liszt dedicated Weihnachtsbaum to his first grandchild Daniela von Bülow (1860-1940; daughter of Cosima and Hans von Bülow). Daniela had accompanied her grandfather to Rome due to his frail condition. The first performance was on Christmas Day 1881 in Daniela's Rome hotel room. This was the day on which her mother Cosima always celebrated her birthday, although she was actually born on Christmas Eve.

Structure

A number of the pieces are based on Christmas carols. The individual pieces are:

  1. Psallite; Altes Weihnachtslied (Psallite; Old Christmas Song; originally a choral work by Michael Praetorius)
  2. O heilige Nacht!; Weihnachtslied nach einer alten Weise (O Holy Night!; Christmas Song in Olden Style)
  3. In dulci jubilo: Die Hirten an der Krippe (In dulci jubilo: The Shepherds at the Manger)
  4. Adeste fideles: Gleichsam als Marsch der heiligen drei Könige (Adeste Fideles: March of the Three Holy Kings)
  5. Scherzoso: Man zündet die Kerzen des Baumes an (Scherzoso: Lighting the Candles on the Tree)
  6. Glockenspiel (Carillon)
  7. Schlummerlied (Slumber Song)
  8. Altes provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (Old Provençal Christmas Song)
  9. Abendglocken (Evening Bells)
  10. Ehemals (variously trans. as In Days Gone By, Old Times, Long Ago, Formerly)
  11. Ungarisch (Hungarian; this is separately dedicated to Liszt's friend Kornél Ábrányi[1])
  12. Polnisch (Polish).

The work is divided into three books of four pieces each. Not all of the pieces have a Christmas connection. In particular, the last three are believed to be autobiographical in nature, depicting Liszt's relationship with Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. Ehemals is said to depict their first meeting, and is similar in mood and spirit to the Valses oubliées. Ungarisch and Polnisch are said to represent Liszt and Carolyne individually.[2][3]

Versions

The first version was for solo piano, written in 1873–74. This was not published, and is catalogued as S. 185a.

In about 1875 Liszt arranged it for piano four hands (S. 612a). This was also not published.

The version for solo piano (or harmonium) was revised 1874–76 (S. 186) and the version for piano four hands was revised 1876-81 (S. 613). These were both published in 1882 by Adolph Fürstner, Berlin.

No. 2, O heilige Nacht!, was revised in 1881 for tenor solo, female chorus and organ or harmonium (S. 49).

The solo piano version of No. 7. Schlummerlied. was revised 1879-81 (S. 186/7a) and this was published by Schirmer, New York, in 1950.[4] The manuscript came into the possession of Liszt's American student Carl Lachmund (1857-1928); it was discovered among a sheaf of assorted papers given to him by Liszt's valet. Lachmund was not aware that it belonged to Weihnachtsbaum specifically; he says in the foreword: "The Roman VII over the title would indicate that the piece might have been intended for some collection". This latest version of Schlummerlied was first performed at the Aeolian Hall, New York, on 12 November 1921, by John Powell.[5]

Recordings

The first recording of Liszt's Weihnachtsbaum was in 1951, by Alfred Brendel. This was also one of Brendel's earliest recordings.[6] Later recordings are by France Clidat, Leslie Howard, Rhondda Gillespie, Roland Pöntinen, Eteri Andjaparidze, Jerome Rose, Pietro Spada and Olivier Vernet. Excerpts have been recorded by Vladimir Horowitz, Ilona Kabos, Stephen Hough and others. The version for piano four hands (S. 613) was recorded by Roberto Szidon and Richard Metzler. Lars David Kellner [de] recorded the first book of 'Weihnachtsbaum' on harmonium.[7]

Other arrangements

In 1952 Anthony Collins arranged four movements from the suite for strings and celesta.[8] Italian composer Giampaolo Testoni has arranged the entire suite for orchestra,[9] as has the British musician Rob Howe.[10]

References

  1. ^ Leslie Howard, Notes to Hyperion recording
  2. ^ Classical Archives
  3. ^ Joseph Banowetz, Notes to Dover Publications edition of the duet version
  4. ^ IMSLP
  5. ^ Foreword to Schlummerlied, published in Sixty Piano Pieces You Like to Play., Schirmer, 1962
  6. ^ AllMusic
  7. ^ [1] published at Apple Music.
  8. ^ Music Web International
  9. ^ [2] Casa Musicale Sonzogno: Giampaolo Testoni
  10. ^ [3] Score Exchange

External links

January 16, 2023
weihnachtsbaum, liszt, weihnachtsbaum, english, christmas, tree, french, arbre, noël, suite, pieces, written, franz, liszt, 1873, with, revisions, 1881, suite, exists, versions, solo, piano, piano, four, hands, weihnachtsbaum, does, demand, great, virtuosity, . Weihnachtsbaum English Christmas Tree French Arbre de Noel is a suite of 12 pieces written by Franz Liszt in 1873 76 with revisions in 1881 The suite exists in versions for solo piano and piano four hands Weihnachtsbaum does not demand great virtuosity and it has been described as a distant relation of Schumann s Kinderszenen and Debussy s Children s Corner It occupies an unusual place in Liszt s output and it may be for these reasons that it has received relatively little attention from performers Contents 1 Background 2 Structure 3 Versions 4 Recordings 5 Other arrangements 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditLiszt dedicated Weihnachtsbaum to his first grandchild Daniela von Bulow 1860 1940 daughter of Cosima and Hans von Bulow Daniela had accompanied her grandfather to Rome due to his frail condition The first performance was on Christmas Day 1881 in Daniela s Rome hotel room This was the day on which her mother Cosima always celebrated her birthday although she was actually born on Christmas Eve Structure EditA number of the pieces are based on Christmas carols The individual pieces are Psallite Altes Weihnachtslied Psallite Old Christmas Song originally a choral work by Michael Praetorius O heilige Nacht Weihnachtslied nach einer alten Weise O Holy Night Christmas Song in Olden Style In dulci jubilo Die Hirten an der Krippe In dulci jubilo The Shepherds at the Manger Adeste fideles Gleichsam als Marsch der heiligen drei Konige Adeste Fideles March of the Three Holy Kings Scherzoso Man zundet die Kerzen des Baumes an Scherzoso Lighting the Candles on the Tree Glockenspiel Carillon Schlummerlied Slumber Song Altes provenzalisches Weihnachtslied Old Provencal Christmas Song Abendglocken Evening Bells Ehemals variously trans as In Days Gone By Old Times Long Ago Formerly Ungarisch Hungarian this is separately dedicated to Liszt s friend Kornel Abranyi 1 Polnisch Polish The work is divided into three books of four pieces each Not all of the pieces have a Christmas connection In particular the last three are believed to be autobiographical in nature depicting Liszt s relationship with Princess Carolyne zu Sayn Wittgenstein Ehemals is said to depict their first meeting and is similar in mood and spirit to the Valses oubliees Ungarisch and Polnisch are said to represent Liszt and Carolyne individually 2 3 Versions EditThe first version was for solo piano written in 1873 74 This was not published and is catalogued as S 185a In about 1875 Liszt arranged it for piano four hands S 612a This was also not published The version for solo piano or harmonium was revised 1874 76 S 186 and the version for piano four hands was revised 1876 81 S 613 These were both published in 1882 by Adolph Furstner Berlin No 2 O heilige Nacht was revised in 1881 for tenor solo female chorus and organ or harmonium S 49 The solo piano version of No 7 Schlummerlied was revised 1879 81 S 186 7a and this was published by Schirmer New York in 1950 4 The manuscript came into the possession of Liszt s American student Carl Lachmund 1857 1928 it was discovered among a sheaf of assorted papers given to him by Liszt s valet Lachmund was not aware that it belonged to Weihnachtsbaum specifically he says in the foreword The Roman VII over the title would indicate that the piece might have been intended for some collection This latest version of Schlummerlied was first performed at the Aeolian Hall New York on 12 November 1921 by John Powell 5 Recordings EditThe first recording of Liszt s Weihnachtsbaum was in 1951 by Alfred Brendel This was also one of Brendel s earliest recordings 6 Later recordings are by France Clidat Leslie Howard Rhondda Gillespie Roland Pontinen Eteri Andjaparidze Jerome Rose Pietro Spada and Olivier Vernet Excerpts have been recorded by Vladimir Horowitz Ilona Kabos Stephen Hough and others The version for piano four hands S 613 was recorded by Roberto Szidon and Richard Metzler Lars David Kellner de recorded the first book of Weihnachtsbaum on harmonium 7 Other arrangements EditIn 1952 Anthony Collins arranged four movements from the suite for strings and celesta 8 Italian composer Giampaolo Testoni has arranged the entire suite for orchestra 9 as has the British musician Rob Howe 10 References Edit Leslie Howard Notes to Hyperion recording Classical Archives Joseph Banowetz Notes to Dover Publications edition of the duet version IMSLP Foreword to Schlummerlied published in Sixty Piano Pieces You Like to Play Schirmer 1962 AllMusic 1 published at Apple Music Music Web International 2 Casa Musicale Sonzogno Giampaolo Testoni 3 Score ExchangeExternal links EditWeihnachtsbaum Liszt Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Weihnachtsbaum Liszt amp oldid 1127044365, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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