Stewart 1

Gabriel Stewart
Choir
Dr. Dehner
1/17/16

The Life of Franz Liszt

Franz Liszt is called one of the most impressive people of music
history. He was born in Raiding, Hungary 1811. He got his musical talents
from his father Adam who played the cello as well as some other
instruments. Adam was Franz teacher when he was a boy. Adam taught
him how to play piano. When Franz was just 6 he was know as a child
prodigy. Two years later he was composing elementary works and when he
was just nine he was performing in concerts. After one of Franzs many
performances Adam asked the prince for extended leave so he could
devote his time into helping his son's musical career. Both father and son
traveled to many different places such as Vienna, and Antonio Salieri.
When Mozart heard the boy play he offered to train him in composition for
free. For many months Franz trained with Mozart which lead him to many
great things such as his own performances for both musicians and kings.

Franz was very talented but his most impressive talent was his ability to
improvise an original piece suggested by the audience. At the age of twelve
Franz and his father traveled to paris looking to attend the Paris
Conservatory. He was denied because he was a foreign to the country. His
father did not stop trying to find a teacher. He quickly asked Ferdinando
Paer to teach his son advanced composition which lead Franz to compose
his first song.
In 1826 Adam Liszt died. This was a very depressing state for Franz
which lead him to stop caring about music. Sometimes he would even
question his own profession. He became a heavy book reader about art
and religion. What he read greatly influenced his music. When Franz was
22 he met Comtesse Marie dAgoult. He was so inspired by love and nature
that he composed many different impressions of the Swiss countryside.
Franz started to play piano again and started to take Europe by storm. His
reputation was brought up when he started to donate money to charities
and humanitarian causes. When he found out about the Great fire of
Hamburg which destroyed most of the city he decided to have concerts to
make money for the homeless. Later on Franz and Comtesse Marie
dAgoult relationship was dieng. They had three children but she was still
not happy with Franz. She did not like the idea that he was touring and

wanted him to stop and teach and compose so he could have a better life
with her. Franz gave his final concert for money at Elisavetgrad in
september.
The couple moved to Weimar in Germany where he began to
concentrate on a new type of musical forms. This lead to his biggest
success which was the creation of the symphonic poem. The peace is not
sung but it does include both music and drama. This inspired many people
to be guided by him.
In 1859 Franz lost his son Daniel and later in 1862 his daughter
Blandine died as well. This was a very tough time for him which lead to his
down fall of music. During the same year he attempted to marry Carolyne
but before their marriage it was canceled due to Carolyn's incompleted
divorce papers. Franz was tired of his complicated life so he moved into a
small apartment outside or germany. He still composed music which lead
him to create the Royal National Hungarian Academy of music. Franz later
years were simple but also intense in harmony. He later died in 1886.