Franz Liszt Bio & Analysis

“An Abbé, honorary canon of Albano, a sincere mystic and at the same time one of history’s most publicized lovers, incredible showman, hypnotic virtuoso, astonishing amalgam of magician, zealot and philanthropist, Liszt is easily the most colorful personality in the history of music” (Lieberson 256.) From his dazzling beginning in the musical circles of Vienna as a child prodigy of eleven years old, Ferenc (Franz) Liszt would establish himself as the leading piano virtuoso and …

…unusual divisions of the beat, extremes of tempo and dynamics, and dense chordal textures (Politoske.)” Because of all of these innovations Liszt has established himself as one of the most important composers in music history, regarded by some, such as Bartok, to be more important in development of music than either Wagner or Richard Strauss. Furthermore , as musician, Abbé, philanthropist, teacher, lover etc., Franz Liszt has certainly marked himself in the great western musical tradition.