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Piano Classics

Liszt: Weihnachtsbaum & Two Movements from Christmas

Virtuosic Dark Dramatic Melancholic Piano
$19.99

Details

Composer
Franz Liszt
Artist
Mark Viner
Format
CD
Label
Piano Classics
Released
Oct 11, 2024
Catalog #
PCL10315
UPC
5029365103152

About

Christmas chez Liszt, imagined by one of the UK's most exciting piano virtuosos. Composed and compiled by Liszt between 1873 and 1881, the 'Christmas Tree' suite has more to offer than carol transcriptions and twinkly sketches of festive joy. It begins with one of the composer's typically free transcriptions of a plainsong Christmas hymn harmonised in the 17th century by Michael Praetorius, and takes in the procession of the Magi towards Bethlehem and a lullaby at the cradle, but also cuts away to contemporary times with a sparkling scherzo to depict the lighting of candles on the tree. The last four of the suite's twelve movements bear only tenuous connections to the festive season, yet they bring some of the most memorable inspirations of all: evocations of evening bells, of 'Yesteryear' in the composer's searching late style, and then Hungarian- and Polish-themed themed pieces. As Mark Viner remarks in his detailed booklet introduction to the album, there is nothing quite like Weihnachtsbaum even in Liszt's own prodigiously varied catalogue. It is impossible to categorise, and yet every bar sounds uniquely Lisztian. Perhaps even less familiar to most listeners, on account not least of it's sheer scale, is the vast three-part oratorio which Liszt based on the life of Christ. Liszt made solo-piano transcriptions of two Christmas-themed orchestral movements from the oratorio's first part, picturing in turn the Shepherds at the Manger and, once more, the 'march' of the Magi. In complement, Mark Viner presents the composer's pianistic translation of the ancient carol Christus natus est. Mark Viner's recordings for Piano Classics have attracted international acclaim. 'The melodies in his hands are not simply played, they are sung on the piano!' (Fanfare, reviewing a previous Liszt album, PCL0116). 'If Alkan could play it as Viner does here, no wonder he was the only pianist in front of whom Liszt was hesitant of playing.' (Gramophone, reviewing Viner's latest volume in his Alkan cycle, PCL10275).

Tracklist 15 tracks

  1. 1 I. Psallite (Old Christmas Song) 01:51
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Psallite (Old Christmas Song)
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  2. 2 II. O heilige Nacht! (O Holy Night) 04:34
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. O heilige Nacht! (O Holy Night)
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  3. 3 III. Die Hirten an der Krippe (In dulci jubilo) 03:03
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Die Hirten an der Krippe (In dulci jubilo)
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  4. 4 IV. Adeste Fideles (March of the Three Holy Kings) 02:45
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Adeste Fideles (March of the Three Holy Kings)
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  5. 5 V. Scherzoso (Little Scherzo, "Lighting the Tree") 02:12
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Scherzoso (Little Scherzo, "Lighting the Tree")
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  6. 6 VI. Carillon (Chimes) 02:06
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Carillon (Chimes)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  7. 7 VII. Schlummerlied (Slumber Song) 03:22
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Schlummerlied (Slumber Song)
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  8. 8 VIII. Altes provencalisches Weihnachtslied (Old Provencal Christmas Song) 01:39
    Track
    8
    Title
    VIII. Altes provencalisches Weihnachtslied (Old Provencal Christmas Song)
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  9. 9 IX. Abendglocken (Evening Bells) 04:25
    Track
    9
    Title
    IX. Abendglocken (Evening Bells)
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  10. 10 X. Ehemals (Old Times) 03:59
    Track
    10
    Title
    X. Ehemals (Old Times)
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  11. 11 XI. Ungarisch (Hungarian) 01:45
    Track
    11
    Title
    XI. Ungarisch (Hungarian)
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  12. 12 XII. Polnisch (Polish) 05:51
    Track
    12
    Title
    XII. Polnisch (Polish)
    Duration
    05:51
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  13. 13 Weihnachtslied II, S502/R197, "Christus ist geboren" 00:58
    Track
    13
    Title
    Weihnachtslied II, S502/R197, "Christus ist geboren"
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  14. 14 No. 1. Hirtengesang an der Krippe, Pastorale (Song of the Shepherds at the Crib, Pastorale) 12:44
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 1. Hirtengesang an der Krippe, Pastorale (Song of the Shepherds at the Crib, Pastorale)
    Duration
    12:44
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner
  15. 15 No. 2. Die heiligen drei Könige, Marsch (The 3 Kings, March) 12:55
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 2. Die heiligen drei Könige, Marsch (The 3 Kings, March)
    Duration
    12:55
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Mark Viner