Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #253538 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Synopsis
To a people, always prompt in its recognition of genius, and ready to sympathize in the joys and woes of a truly great artist, this work will be one of exceeding interest. It is a short, glowing, and generous sketch, from the hand of Franz Liszt, (who, considered in the double light of composer and performer, has no living equal,) of the original and romantic Chopin; the most ethereal, subtle, and delicate among our modern tone-poets. It is a rare thing for a great artist to write on art, to leave the passionate worlds of sounds or colors for the colder realm of words; rarer still for him to abdicate, even temporarily, his own throne, to stand patiently and hold aloft the blazing torch of his own genius, to illume the gloomy grave of another: yet this has Liszt done through love for Chopin.

Customer Reviews

Chopin, by his friend Liszt
This book is of fascinating historical interest to any devotee of Chopin. I am one of those, for I have concluded that Chopin is one of the great fathers of 19th century music, and not only for the piano, his almost exclusive interest. Liszt was his almost exact contemporary and close friend, and a great admirer of his compositions which Chopin loved to hear him play.
Liszt was a great pianist, but is no great author; his style is florid, turgid, sometimes tedious. His choice of content in this biography is interesting in itself, covering for example the nature and origin of the Polonaise, for which Chopin is famed as an ardent Polish nationalist, though residing in France. But the biography is fascinating just because it is so contemporary and by someone of equal musical fame who both felt and understood Chopin's genius, and knew him as a friend. It is more of an appreciation than a true biography, and should be read alongside the modern biographies of this great composer.