Credits:

Peter Dijkstra

Description:

Liszts The Way of the Cross, composed late in his life, is a religious work depicting the 14 stations of the Cross. While it minimizes dramatic elements and interweaves sacred chants and hymns, the work also employs bold harmonies that at times seem to anticipate atonality; as a result, it was neither performed nor published during the composers lifetime. Many scenes lack vocal parts, and the sorrow of the Passion and the deep prayers are entrusted to the piano; this unconventional stillness lends the entire work a heavy and poignant atmosphere. Placed at the beginning and end of the album are works by Cornelius, a composer whom Liszt encouraged to devote himself to church music. The *Requiem* that opens the album is a mixed-voice choral work based on a German poem by Hebbel rather than the Latin liturgical text. In contrast, the final piece, *Requiem Aeternum*, is a male chorus work based on