Liszt’s Pianos in Vienna (1838-1846): A Study of the Instruments through Press Articles from the Period
Abstract
Between 1838 and 1846, various Viennese critics published articles on the concerts Liszt gave in the Austrian capital. These meticulous texts not only contain comments on the merely interpretative aspects of the execution of the programs, but many other details, including the pianos the Hungarian composer used on each occasion, the works he played on them and way in which they functioned on stage.
An analysis of these reviews has revealed the characteristics of the pianos, their makers and how Liszt assigned the pieces to each of them. The results have shed some light on how the composer conceived sound during this period –thus making it easier for performers to choose an instrument for this repertory today–, the attitude of critics towards sound media and the variety of design of pianos built at the time.
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