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- The definitive Franz Liszt -- all 3 of the volumes!
- Superb accomplishment - enlightening
- Great Biography Of The World's First Rock Star
- 10 stars for this phenomenal achievement
- Perfection is here!!
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Franz Liszt: The Virtuoso Years, 1811-1847, Vol. 1 (Franz Liszt)
Alan Walker
Manufacturer: Cornell University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Liszt, Franz
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Similar Items:
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Franz Liszt: The Weimar Years, 1848-1861
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Franz Liszt: The Final Years, 1861-1886
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Reflections On Liszt
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The Death of Franz Liszt: Based on the Unpublished Diary of His Pupil Lina Schmalhausen
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The Cambridge Companion to Liszt (Cambridge Companions to Music)
ASIN: 0801494214 |
Customer Reviews:
The definitive Franz Liszt -- all 3 of the volumes! .......2007-05-09
This will probably be one of my shorter reviews [A sudden shout: "Yeah, right Doc!"] because I can quickly cut to the chase, to wit, Dr. Alan Walker has produced in this painstakingly researched 3 volume biography [spread out over 25 years during the research] with this 1811-1847 book being the first in that series, the 'definitive' Franz Liszt! This trilogy is a must read for those interested in Liszt and, IMO, is not only the definitive Liszt from "the" acknowledged authority and foremost Franz Liszt scholar but a decided asset to the Liszt biographical literature per se.
Two more comments: Watch the Amazon vendor prices for the 'hardcover' editions! Originally, these were rather pricey books in hardcover [although well worth it! Knopf quality!] but I was able to get 'used' albeit literally mint hardcover editions of the 3 volumes from 3 separate Amazon vendors. What's that? Sure! The original harcover editions were, in order of publication, $25.00, $39.95 and $45.00. I'll generally check out the hardcover offerings over the paperback editions in most of my books and sometimes there are some really exceptional buys out there although if it's a choice between 'good' and 'very good' pay the few dollars extra for the 'very good' or 'like new' grade notations.
Finally, check out among other of Dr. Walker's tomes on Franz Liszt, "The Death of Franz Liszt: Based on the Unpublished Diary of his Pupil Lina Schmalhausen" which is quite an eye-opener with regard to the "treatment" [or lack of same therein] of Liszt prior to his demise. As I said when I reveiewed that book, I trust the source of the diary find as well as the findings and its editing, annotations and examination via Dr. Walker as to the veracity of the Schmalhausen remarks. I quoted the remarks of the conductor, Felix Weingartner, who was 'there' at the time and his own observations [et al] lend credence to the Schmalhausen diary.
So too, and if finances permit and you want Franz Liszt a la mode, get the 3 volumes in one swoop plus the Lina Schmalhausen diary book which was edited and annotated by Dr. Walker in re the death of Liszt and finally, putting it all together, the 2005 published Dr. Alan Walker 'capstone', if you will, "Reflections on Liszt." See my reviews on those two tomes as well.
Doc Tony
What's that? Why not! Doc Walker with a straight white haired wig resurrecting Steve Allen's "Meeting of Minds" and doing the one and only "F. Liszt" as a sort of latter day counter-balance to Victor Borge's 'interpretation' so to speak in that classic Mike Wallace skit! Who better than Doc Walker to play Liszt and concurrently know what he's talking about! Ahhhh! That's the rather cogent difference!
A sudden voice: "What about Doc Walker's Chopin and Schumann tomes?" Fine! They could be played next! ;-) [as I place much trust in Dr. Walker's sense of humor! But the obvious compliment of his research is clearly evident!]
Superb accomplishment - enlightening.......2007-04-11
As a music student in the 70's the subtext when discussing Franz Liszt was that he was a showman who leaned on his empty virtuosity. Chopin, Mendelssohn, and Schumann on the other hand, were the true romantic artists.
It's taken me over 35 years of studying piano and music to get to the point where I would read this wonderful biography of Liszt, and my eyes have been opened even wider about the wonderful artistic character of Liszt and his completely indespensible role in 19th century music.
This book (I have all three) is a wonderful read, at some times it is "laugh out loud" funny, and is filled with musical examples that perfectly illustrate the points that Mr. Walker makes.
If you are a musician interested in the piano, or the Romantic period, you owe it to yourself to let the scales fall from your eyes, and read this enlightening exposition.
Great Biography Of The World's First Rock Star.......2006-08-15
Alan Walker deserves 5 enthusiastic stars for making his life's purpose the writing of Franz Liszt's definitive biography, and succeeding nearly as well as humanly possible considering the availability of the always-emerging Liszt materials throughout the years. For me, I would have liked to have seen an even more musically-oriented life of Liszt. More than a few times, Walker mentions that eyewitness accounts exist of important concerts, only to refer us in a footnote to some person's diary (probably only available in some Transylvanian dialect if you could ever find it) rather than telling us about it himself. Meanwhile we're treated to almost painfully detailed renderings of Franz's love life with Marie D'Agoult and the many domestic dramas which haunted him as his pursued his life on the concert trail... but these are minor quibbles. The book is great, no doubt about it. Poor Liszt, he was the busiest piano virtuoso in history at that time, traveling in various carriages and carts across thousands of miles of potholed roads where he was jolted mercilessly and endured illness, exhaustion, rain, mud, snow and ice while he raced to his next gig. He was literally thrown to the ground violently at least twice, when wheels dipped into ditches or the drivers fell asleep and the whole carriage overturned. (It's sad and sobering to realize that this is exactly how the original bassist for the rock group Metallica, Cliff Burton, was killed more than 150 years later on a lonely road in Sweden. He was sleeping on the band's tour bus when it overturned. In a similar accident, singer Gloria Estefan was lucky to escape with her life.) Somehow, despite these gritty and dangerous travel conditions, Liszt performed a grueling succession of mostly triumphant concerts everywhere from Italy to Scotland to Russia before he decided he had been bounced around quite enough thank you, and settled down to compose and teach in Weimar, where Volume two of this epic biography begins. Towards the end of Volume 1, I began to feel as if author Walker's spark was fading slightly. And lo and behold, as I began reading Volume 2, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the intervening years in which the author was researching the next installment had allowed him to completely recharge his batteries, and present part 2 to the public with a fully-renewed sense of brilliance, wit, and passion for his subject matter. Highly recommended reading for biography buffs interested in great musicians and composers!
10 stars for this phenomenal achievement.......2006-07-29
This is simply the standard of Liszt biography. The fact that Alan Walker researched enough to fill three volumes is an achievement enough, but you know what else makes this biography so good? It's fun to read. Without a doubt, anyone interested in Liszt will find anecdotes, insights, illuminated facts, and even musical analysis of the most colorful and exciting character in classical music: Franz Liszt.
I've read this book twice, actually, and the second time was even more enjoyable. This owes to many things: Alan Walker's superb writing style, eloquent organization (gives the pedantics many footnotes to absorb at the bottom of the page) and a fine cohesion of thoughts and ideas put into each chapter. Sometimes I can't help but enjoy the biography as I would a novel. Yet Walker does not write it like a novel and clearly sets out to chronicle Liszt's life from his youth all the way to his retiring from the concert stage. In between these pivotal times, Walker manages to debunk myths, explore Liszt's underrated music from his virtuoso days, and examine other characters who interacted with the Hungarian composer. Walker is always focused on Liszt but never detracts by discussing Clara and Robert Schumann's reactions, or Sigismond Thalberg, Chopin and even Alkan. Walker depicts their perspective of Liszt and goes on to explain why there were so many misunderstandings.
Stories of Liszt's true meeting with Beethoven, his exciting romance with Marie D'Agoult, the duel with Thalberg, his generous nature to play for charity, and so many enticing stories of his concert days all help to shed light on what a remarkable man Liszt was, and at such a young age, too. The whole book is an exquisite panorama of Liszt's character, detailed through his letters, his travels, his music, and his legacy as researched by the author. What Walker has done is set the standard for the way Liszt should be viewed in the history books. For so long, musicologists were almost feeding us false information. From the really low ones we were even getting propaganda that he was a womanizer, a cheat, some kind of vulgar pianist, and even a fraud. Walker candidly mauls those old and incorrect views into the dust; he explores and accurately dispels the myths and ignorance that so many people harbored and still harbor for him, and for that I feel thankful.
Never have I read a biography twice like this and found the second reading even more engrossing. There is never a dull moment, never a chapter that slows down. To be fair, the only chapter that was uninteresting was the prologue and biographical information of Liszt's family. Despite that, once you're absorbed into Liszt's young world with Czerny, his move to Paris, and his tours all over Europe, it's like being on a rollercoaster ride during the whole book.
Bottom line: Liszt lovers must read this book; it's the best wealth of knowledge to get on the young Franz Liszt and it is written in a way that doesn't just educate, but also entertains. Highly recommended.
Perfection is here!!.......2003-06-03
I don't need a thousand words to express my admiration for the deepness of this Liszt's biography by Alan Walker. The research evolved unto these should have been formidable. The unique comparison for such a work of 30 years of research is the Work of Liszt itself. We cannot immagine how Alan Walker got all these informations, he seemed to really know what Liszt made all days in his life.
In a word: Incredible !!! Get it!
Customer Reviews:
Attention all Lisztians.......2002-11-27
If you are a Lisztomaniac, this is for you. It is a book that is very difficult to put down. Liszt's life reads better than a novel, and Walker's narrative flows superbly. He has investigated every biographical avenue and brings the Weimar of the 1800's to life.
On the negative side: There are copious footnotes, which often stray off the subject, whilst others belong to the main text from which they divert. As the book is meant to be a work of scholarship, the amount of opinion and speculation which peppers the book is also rather annoying. One has to be very cautious in separating Walker's own views from the first-class academic research that he has done.
Nonetheless as this book covers the most prolific period of the composer's life, you can do no better than read Walker's account to dicover just who Liszt was, his importance to musical history and the enigma of the man himself.
Attention all Lisztians.......2002-11-27
If you are a Lisztomaniac, this is for you. It is a book that is very difficult to put down. Liszt's life reads better than a novel, and Walker's narrative flows superbly. He has investigated every biographical avenue and brings the Weimar of the 1800's to life.
On the negative side: There are copious footnotes, which often stray off the subject, whilst others belong to the main text from which they divert. As the book is meant to be a work of scholarship, the amount of opinion and speculation which peppers the book is also rather annoying. One has to be very cautious in separating Walker's own views from the first-class academic research that he has done.
Nonetheless as this book covers the most prolific period of the composer's life, you can do no better than read Walker's account to dicover just who Liszt was, his importance to musical history and the enigma of the man himself.
Fantastic Source about a Fantastic Man........2000-01-04
I have been a great fan of Franz Liszt for quite some time, and Alan Walker brought the composer to life in his trilogy of books about the famed musician.
This volume goes into great detail about Liszt's life after he decided to end his life as a virtuoso, and become a composer. His love for Princess Carolyne became apparent in his music, and in his interactions with others.
While it is not as descriptive as I would have liked regarding Liszt's symphonic poems, my favorites among his many works, i still felt that this volume is well worth every penny I spent on it. Definitely a worthy buy for anyone interested in music and what makes up a composer.
Book Description
Memorable tribute from one musical genius to another, reproduced from authoritative editions, reveals Liszt's remarkable capacity for translating orchestral effects into pianistic terms. An astonishing, brilliant and sensitive tribute to the master by the 19th-century's greatest piano virtuoso.
Customer Reviews:
For piano playing fans of Beethoven's symphonies........2001-03-13
I bought this book as a result of listening to the performance of it on CD. I have always enjoyed listening to Beethoven, and his symphonies have retained a place on my shelves for years. However, being a pianist, I never had a chance to actually play them. The way Liszt transcribed Beethoven's works onto piano is astounding, as he writes in a very natural way. There are, of course, some details of certain harmonies left out, but the overall impression remains remarkably similar. I look forward to being able to purchase the next book of the series when it is released.
Customer Reviews:
Another Weimar Era diary worth the read! .......2007-05-20
This is a pricey book [hardcover] but as I've said in other reviews, one of the ways to better know Franz Liszt in addition to the tomes written about him not the least of which is Dr. Alan Walker's monumental 3 volume biography which represents some 25 years in painstaking research, is through the eyes and hence perspectives of Liszt's Weimar students.
Hence, this diary by Carl V. Lachmund [1853-1928] and edited by Lisztian scholar Dr. Alan Walker serves to add to the Liszt literature as do the subsequently published diaries of other Liszt Weimar students, August Göllerich, Lina Schmalhausen, Amy Fay, Alexander Siloti and Arthur Friedheim. For researchers, the Carl V. Lachmund material is available in the original at the New York Public Library under the collection ID of JPB 92-1. Of note, and this from the NYPL collection itelf, [with full 'identification' contents of the entire collection [20 boxes] available online from the New York Public Library], "Lachmund was the only American [student] to ever have a testimonial letter from Liszt himself."
A word about prices! Various vendors will offer this book from time to time and the prices can vary widely sometimes exceeding the Amazon price and other times lower in price but keep in mind that when any item is ordered from an Amazon vendor [and please note, I've done plenty of business with Amazon vendors over the years generally with excellent results especially when tracking down hardcover editions which I prefer over soft cover editions although this particular book is 'only' in hardcover edition as far as I am aware], anyway, when dealing with Amazon vendors one must factor in individual vendor shipping costs as well as any possible state sales tax issues depending on your geographical location.
Back to the student diaries in general, keep in mind also that the remarks made by former Liszt students are wholly 'subjective' in nature and while they in fact, IMO anyway, add to the Liszt literature in general, comments about Liszt per se should not be interpreted as the proverbial 'last word' because it is not unlikely to have one student describe Liszt as an almost 'father figure' while another speaks of 'a taskmaster with sometimes rude criticisms' but much of this depends, again in my view and so stated therein, not necessarily "one of the master's bad moods" as quite possibly one of the student's 'bad moods' or indeed more blatant and repeated pianistic blunders!
This also addresses the matter of some folks believing Liszt merely 'gave piano lessons to those wishing to learn to play or at least play better beyond the novice level' [!] when in fact these were 'master classes' for those who knew the instrument very well and could equally and readily 'demonstrate' same not just to Liszt himself but his rather accomplished pupils as well. Sort of a built-in peer system so to speak where talent at the instrument was a 'given' albeit at the very get-go and well 'prior' to seeking out Liszt! Often, when the student began to hear the word "conservatory" coming from Liszt, well, it was time to RE-assess whether Liszt master classes was the appropriate forum for their pianistic abilities .. or lack thereof. The students themselves freely rendering such opinions and of course being rather protective of their own position in the pecking order of things. Even Weimar had its 'maximum capacity' as it were.
Doc Tony
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An Artist's Journey: Lettres d'un bachelier es musique, 1835-1841
Franz Liszt
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Liszt, Franz
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ASIN: 0226485102 |
Book Description
In these eloquent and intensely personal writings, Franz Liszt sketches the cities, people, and scenes of his travels in the 1830s and explores ideas about art and its ideal place in the world. During six years of wandering through Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, and Germany (four of them together with Countess Marie d'Agoult), the composer saw the greatest art and most fabulous landscapes of Europe and crossed paths with celebrated singers and artists, renowned intellectuals, infamous socialites, and both reigning and deposed aristocracy. The article/essays that emerged from this period are both public and private: though written for the Paris press, they are the closest that Liszt came to autobiography. Some of these writings are travel articles; some are essentially reports of a music correspondent; still others are personal and confessional; and some are really essays on the nature of art. All offer precious insight into the musical, social, and intellectual life in the major European capitals seen through the eyes of one of the most well-read and influential musical personalities of the period.
Book Description
Edited by Busoni. Also includes Etude in 12 Exercises, 12 Grand Etudes and Mazeppa. Breitkopf and Härtel edition.
Customer Reviews:
Liszt Etudes.......2007-06-23
Good binding, clear printing, and of course, it's complete...
...but who can actually PLAY it ): ?
A lot of his earlier works are very approachable, but the Transcendental Etudes aren't recognised as the most difficult piano pieces ever written for no reason!
Fantabulous.......2006-04-01
This book of Liszt etudes is magnificent and challenging. But, find a good one with good binding because when i first got mine, the book binding tore up on me the first day. All the pages came out in sections (and I mean pages everywere too!). Uh.. yeah, I was pissed!
Some rare Liszt.......2004-06-13
This is a valuable book for anyone interested in Liszt and his rare, hard to find, first edition of the famous Transcendental Études. It makes an interesting study to compare the original versions with their later counterparts.
A great piano book!.......1999-12-01
This is a great book for any virtuoso pianist. Including the first and second versions of the transcendental etudes (Etudes en Douze Excercises, and Douze Grandes Etudes), which you will not find in any other book, it includes 36 songs on over 250 pages. It is an excellent deal, and along with its partner, the second volume, they are a valuable addition to your repertoire.
excellent notes........1998-10-11
superior book.
Book Description
One of Liszt’s most admired and performed masterpieces for piano, along with the 6 Consolations, 10 Harmonies poetiques et religieuses, 2 Ballades and 2 Legendes, all reprinted from the authoritative Franz Liszt-Stiftung edition published by Breitkopf & Härtel of Leipzig.
Book Description
Edited by Busoni. Also includes Morceau de Saon, Ab Irato. Breitkopf & Härtel Edition.
Customer Reviews:
A very great book. A must-have book for advanced pianists........2000-08-13
This book is a part of 2-book set. Both books are must-haves for advanced pianists. The quoality of printing is good. Notes are clear. Transcendental etudes are in book 1 and Paganini Etudes are in book 2. Do not hesitate to buy this book if you are fond of Liszt. You must be an advanced pianist to be able to play most pieces in the book.
busoni edition.......2000-07-23
The so good edition of the entire piano music of Franz Liszt ( it's not really complete, sadly) made by the pianist and composer Ferruccio Busoni. It's not easy to find this edition. Dover offers just the complete etudes(in two volumes). As usual for Dover, not first quality printing, but for this price it's a bargain and a good complement for the Budapest edition.
Book Description
Second volume in a Dover series of Liszt's piano transcriptions of Beethoven's 9 symphonies includes Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, "Pastorale"; Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92; Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93; and Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, "Choral."
Customer Reviews:
Liszt, the master transcriber.......2004-06-13
For anyone interested in Liszt, the Beethoven symphonies and the art of piano transcription, I highly recommend this book. It makes a great study and is well worth the price for either just the Pastoral or Choral symphony alone.
Book Description
Virtuoso transpositions of themes by Mozart, Verdi, Bellini, other masters, into unforgettable music for piano. Published in association with American Liszt Society.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent edition, clear notes, and rare music!!.......2004-03-23
Of all the Dover editions of Liszt's music, I must say this is one of the best. I suggest you buy it if you like liszt's music or operas by Mozart, Bellini, Meyerbeer, or the William tell overture. My personal favorite is Reminiscences of Norma. The chances of you finding music like this in the average sheetmusic store is slim to none. I have found no errors in the publishing, and separate ossias are offered for a variety of pieces in the book. If you are not familiar with these pieces of Liszt, I suggest you put in an order of the book and try to find recordings of the pieces like Reminiscences of Robert le Diable, the Don Juan fantasy, or Wltz from Faust. I consider this book a beautiful collection of music no one should be without.
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