Description
With almost no modulation and almost no swell, a melody moves quietly through calm, stacked chords in this opening piece of Liszt's six Consolations, S. 172. Published in 1850, the set shows the other side of the composer famous for transcendental difficulty — writing that sings with almost no display — and the first piece states that stance in its most concise form.
Only about 260 notes fill more than a minute and a half of E major common time, so each chord is left to sound at length, and one expression is held to the end.
With no fast motion and no large leaps it is rated beginner, but the work is in how the chords are sounded: every note together, with only the top voice marginally forward. With so few notes, the quality of a single chord is the quality of the performance. Change the pedal cleanly at each change of harmony so nothing is dragged across.
Six meditative piano pieces Liszt composed around 1849-50, calm and introspective in character.
Browse all songs in Consolations →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Franz Liszt was a Hungarian-born virtuoso pianist and composer whose legendary performances earned him fame across Europe as the "wizard of the piano." Beyond his transcendent technique, he was also an innovative composer who created the symphonic poem as a genre, and he is equally remembered for meditative miniatures like the Consolations and dramatic works like the Ballades. This site includes 4 of his works, including Ballade No. 2 and Consolations No. 1, 3, and 4.
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