Born:
October 22,1811
Birthplace:
Raiding in Hungary
Died:
July 31,1886 in Bayreuth
Also Known As:
Liszt was a composer of adventurous music, inventor of piano recitals, piano virtuoso, performer, arranger and conductor. As a composer, he was well-received by the masses and adored by ladies. He was also a teacher and considered the figurehead of the New German School. Liszt penned the term "symphonic poem." He was also a priest.
Type of Compositions:
He wrote music for the piano, orchestral music, choral music and
opera.
Influence :
Liszt' first piano teacher was his father. Afterward, Czerny took over his piano lessons. He studied composition and theory with Reicha and Paer. He was also influenced by the works of
Paganini (whose works he adapted to the piano). A group of nobles in Hungary helped him pay for his studies.
Notable Works:
Among his well known compositions are: "Transcendental Etudes," "Hungarian Rhapsodies," "Sonata in B minor," "Les Préludes," "Dante Symphony," "Totentanz" and "Faust Symphony."
Interesting Fact:
He was romantically involved with Countess Marie d'Agoult and Princess Carolyne Sayn-Wittgenstein; both married women. Later on in his life, he became a priest and wrote (among others) sacred music.
Music Sample:
Listen to Franz Liszt'
Hungarian Rhapsody.
