Why did Liszt write Totentanz?
Adam Liszt’s unexpected death from typhoid fever in 1827 devastated the 15-year-old composer. It was perhaps this event that led to Liszt’s artistic preoccupation with death, which is exemplified by his imaginative masterpiece, Totentanz.
What is the Totentanz?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Totentanz (English: Dance of the Dead): Paraphrase on Dies irae, S. 126, is the name of a work for solo piano and orchestra by Franz Liszt notable for being based on the Gregorian plainchant melody Dies irae as well as for stylistic innovations.
When did Liszt write Totentanz?
Like the First Concerto, the Totentanz was composed beginning in the late 1830s. It was completed a decade later and revised 1853 and 1859. Liszt’s son-in-law, the pianist and conductor Hans von Bülow, was the soloist at the work’s premiere in The Hague on April 15, 1865.
Is Totentanz a symphonic poem?
Two standards of the Romantic repertoire for piano and orchestra. Liszt’s symphonic poem Totentanz (Dance of Death) consists of six variations on the familiar Gregorian “Dies Irae” plainchant melody.
What is the tempo of Totentanz dance of death?
Section 2 – Totentanz (Dance of death) This section starts with a new tempo, crotchet = 120, as the dance macabre rhythm is introduced by maracas. It’s in 7/4 and is based on 5 beats of quavers and 2 beats of semiquavers.
What is the instrument used of Totentanz dance of death?
The harshness from the piano mixed with the steady trombones and tuba makes for a really exciting introduction to Liszt’s Dance of Death. Stabs from the orchestra set off flourishing runs from the piano, as well as Liszt exploring the very bottom end of the instrument.
Who wrote Totentanz?
Franz Liszt
Totentanz/Composers
Duration: 16 minutes in one movement. THE COMPOSER – FRANZ LISZT (1811-1886) – In the early 1860s, the crushing disappointments of Liszt’s personal life forced him to seriously consider the solace and rigor of monastic life.
Who composed Totentanz?
How do you pronounce Totentanz?
Resonance is hard at work preparing our “Dance of Death” concert, and we are incredibly excited about the double bill of versions of the Totentanz (pronounced TOE-ten-tahnts).
