The Symphonic Poem & Lizst

The life of Liszt coincides with the Romantic period, and in some ways he may be said to bridge the gap between the Classical Period and the Modern Period in music (Searle 122). LisztÆs creation of the symphonic poem was a development of his attraction to the Romantic Movement and rejection of strict classical form. Romantic music centers on lyrical melody, with long sections and even entire movements continuing in one unbroken rhythmic pattern. Romantic music is also more individualistic than classical music, an important attribute in the Romantic period of the arts. The Romantic Movement in the arts, both music and literature, lasted from about the end of the 18th Century to the last quarter of the 19th Century, and is regarded as a revolt from tradition, and an interest in expa

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Liszt became a model of Romantic expression. LisztÆs symphonic poems, then, are based on a musical theme that is in turn based on a concept meant to evoke a certain feeling or emotion, with the subject matter based on legends or literary works. In his symphonic poems, he ôfelt that he was enhancing the dignity of instrumental music, by, as it were, projecting masterpieces of world literature and myth into the language of musicö (Dahlhaus 88). For example, ôOrpheusö is based on the Greek legend, while ôLes Preludesö is inspired by Alphonse de Lammartine. LisztÆs first symphonic poem, composed between 1847 and 1848, known as ôBergsymphonie,ö based its subject matter on Victor HugoÆs poem ôCe quÆon Entend sur la Montagne,ö and the romanticism of HugoÆs poem was captured by LisztÆs music (LisztÆs Symphonic Poems). Liszt conceived of music as its own language. He ôdrew the conclusion that it is not so much musical themes and motives themselves as the transformations they undergo and the relations made to pertain between them that determine the æspeechlikeÆ aspect of instrumental musicö (Dahlhaus 242). He summarized the idea of HugoÆs poem in his own prose poem that explained the composerÆs concept of the use of ôvoices.ö ôThe noti
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