Credits:

Christopher Williams

Description:

For Liszt, a march was not merely music for a steady, rhythmic stride, but a form of expression that reflected introspection, dramatic expression, and his own national identity. Especially for him, having spent much of his life abroad, this genre served as a means of conveying his complex feelings toward Hungary and his national pride; he elevated it to a dramatic work of art by making full use of bold harmonies and chromatic techniques. This collection includes the Hungarian March, S. 233, which incorporates the passionate rhythms of the Verbenkosa recruitment dance used to enlist young Hungarians into the armyas well as the Heroic March, S. 231which would later evolve into the symphonic poem Hungaryamong other works that reflect his fervent feelings for his homeland. The March for the Coronation, S. 523 is not merely a simple ode to the homeland; it blends longing for a distant homela