Princess Carolyne — added an explanatory paragraph that begins : “ What is life but a series of preludes to that unknown song whose first solemn note is tolled by death ?”
Set in one continuous 15-minute movement , Les Préludes is a striking example of music built from Liszt ’ s principle of “ thematic transformation .” Like his fellow Romantic Hector Berlioz , Liszt liked to take one evocative theme , or motto , and use it in many different guises throughout a work . We hear this motto immediately in the strings . Springing upward from a dotted rhythm , it undulates moodily ; answering woodwinds emphasize its three-note core . Military brass fanfares present its first transformation over rocketing strings . Cellos and violins then smooth it into a lyrically romantic strain . To this , Liszt adds a secondary theme : a mellow rocking melody for horns .
The motto theme and its rocking companion move through a turbulent , bellicose episode , then a gently pastoral one featuring bright , birdlike woodwinds . Finally , both themes are spurred on to a martial pace , and the brass fanfares and rocketing strings return to fire a blazing , heroic conclusion .
Instrumentation : Three flutes including piccolo , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , percussion , harp and strings .
PIANO CONCERTO NO . 22 IN E-FLAT MAJOR
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Born in Salzburg , Austria , January 27 , 1756 ; died in Vienna , Austria , December 5 , 1791
For a few years following his arrival in Vienna in 1781 , Mozart was the most popular pianist in the city . Viennese music lovers couldn ’ t get enough of him , and so he needed to keep very busy as a composer creating a repertoire of new pieces to play for them . Between February 1784 and December 1786 , he composed 12 concertos , all of them masterpieces . Although they were created to display his own virtuoso performing skills , they transcended this practical purpose to
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