Hungarian Fantasy (Liszt)
Encyclopedia
The Hungarian Fantasy for piano
and orchestra
is an arrangement
of the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 14
written by Franz Liszt
in 1852. The work was premiered in Pest
on June 1, 1853 with Hans von Bülow
as soloist and Ferenc Erkel conducting the orchestra.
were among his most popular works. Because of this popularity, he may have been under pressure to produce versions of them for piano and orchestra. The Hungarian Fantasy is the only such work that Liszt is known to have produced. However he may, at the end of his life, have helped his student Sophie Menter
with her Concerto in the Hungarian Style
(1885), a work which was clearly influenced by the Hungarian Fantasy.
A slow introduction by the orchestra is followed by a solo cadenza
before proceeding to the main body of the work. The bold, marchlike main theme of the work, as in the version for solo piano, is the Hungarian folk song "Mohac's Field," with a long-short-short-long rhythm
. While much of the piece's thematic material is derived from this song, there is also a section in A minor
marked "in gypsy style" (alla zingaresse).
While the Fantasy is in the same style and tradition as the Hungarian Rhapsodies, it differs structurally from them. The Rhapsodies generally present a clear succession of three traditional scales —lassan
, czifra, and friska
. These dances are evident in the Fantasia, particularly in the long and brilliant friska section. However, Liszt is freer and wider ranging in his combination and juxataposition of material than he usually does for this type of work.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
is an arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
of the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 14
Hungarian Rhapsodies
Hungarian Rhapsody redirects here. For the 1979 Hungarian film Hungarian Rhapsody . For the 1928 German film Ungarische Rhapsodie.The Hungarian Rhapsodies, S.244, R106, is a set of 19 piano pieces based on Hungarian folk themes, composed by Franz Liszt during 1846-1853, and later in 1882 and 1885...
written by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
in 1852. The work was premiered in Pest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
on June 1, 1853 with Hans von Bülow
Hans von Bülow
Hans Guido Freiherr von Bülow was a German conductor, virtuoso pianist, and composer of the Romantic era. He was one of the most famous conductors of the 19th century, and his activity was critical for establishing the successes of several major composers of the time, including Richard...
as soloist and Ferenc Erkel conducting the orchestra.
Overview
During Liszt's lifetime, his Hungarian RhapsodiesHungarian Rhapsodies
Hungarian Rhapsody redirects here. For the 1979 Hungarian film Hungarian Rhapsody . For the 1928 German film Ungarische Rhapsodie.The Hungarian Rhapsodies, S.244, R106, is a set of 19 piano pieces based on Hungarian folk themes, composed by Franz Liszt during 1846-1853, and later in 1882 and 1885...
were among his most popular works. Because of this popularity, he may have been under pressure to produce versions of them for piano and orchestra. The Hungarian Fantasy is the only such work that Liszt is known to have produced. However he may, at the end of his life, have helped his student Sophie Menter
Sophie Menter
Sophie Menter was a German pianist and composer who became the favorite female student of Franz Liszt. She was called l'incarnation de Liszt in Paris because of her robust, electrifying playing style and was considered one of the greatest piano virtuosos of her time.Sophie Menter was born in...
with her Concerto in the Hungarian Style
Ungarische Zigeunerweisen
Ungarische Zigeunerweisen [Hungarian Gypsy Melodies ] is a single-movement work for piano and orchestra of about 17 minutes' duration by Sophie Menter...
(1885), a work which was clearly influenced by the Hungarian Fantasy.
A slow introduction by the orchestra is followed by a solo cadenza
Cadenza
In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
before proceeding to the main body of the work. The bold, marchlike main theme of the work, as in the version for solo piano, is the Hungarian folk song "Mohac's Field," with a long-short-short-long rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
. While much of the piece's thematic material is derived from this song, there is also a section in A minor
A minor
A minor is a minor scale based on A, consisting of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The harmonic minor scale raises the G to G...
marked "in gypsy style" (alla zingaresse).
While the Fantasy is in the same style and tradition as the Hungarian Rhapsodies, it differs structurally from them. The Rhapsodies generally present a clear succession of three traditional scales —lassan
Lassan
Lassan is a town in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated on the Peene river, a branch of the Oder, 15 km northeast of Anklam.-References:...
, czifra, and friska
Friska
Friska , is a musical term used to describe the fast section of the csárdás, a Hungarian folk dance, or of most of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, which take their form from this dance. The friska is generally either turbulent or jubilant in tone....
. These dances are evident in the Fantasia, particularly in the long and brilliant friska section. However, Liszt is freer and wider ranging in his combination and juxataposition of material than he usually does for this type of work.