Description

The Hungarian Rhapsody no. 13, published in 1853, numbers among the lesser-known piano pieces of this series, yet with its rousing verve is no less exciting than the more popular rhapsodies. It incorporates no fewer than five themes drawn from Hungarian folk music and popular contemporary compositions. The panorama ranges from art song to the verbunkos (a dance performed to recruit soldiers) and the csárdás, whereby expressive melancholy, sparkling runs and dance-like rhythms go hand in hand. As to be expected from Liszt, the typical characteristics of the “style hongrois”, such as changes of tempo, rich ornamentation, augmented seconds, and sharply dotted rhythms here too create virtuoso effects and a rich local colour.
Involved in this edition, which for the first time takes into account all extant sources – from the early version to the last new edition published during his lifetime – are the experienced Liszt specialists: Mária Eckhardt for the preface and Vincenzo Maltempo for the fingerings.