Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
It's the subtitle of HR5, and it apparently suggests a program or concept for the piece. The 'elegy' part is obvious given that the main theme is in the style of a funeral march - but how about "Héroïde"? I can't find a definition for that one. If the piece is a musical tribute to someone's life, is it known if Liszt had anyone specific in mind?
No. As in Funérailles, it is a heart-felt tribute to the Hungarian uprising in October of 1849.
It is one of Liszt's greatest works, and always moves me to tears.
I'm learning it now. It is an emotionally gripping piece. My understanding is that Funeraille was written because of Liszt's rage about that failed uprising and his grief about the execution of his friends. If you listen carefully, you can imagine the execution scene. Learning it is an indescribable experience...exhausting, painful and cathartic. Listen to Kissin's recording. You can hear the inevitability of death. Look at his face when he finishes:
It's the subtitle of HR5, and it apparently suggests a program or concept for the piece. The 'elegy' part is obvious given that the main theme is in the style of a funeral march - but how about "Héroïde"? I can't find a definition for that one. If the piece is a musical tribute to someone's life, is it known if Liszt had anyone specific in mind?
The subtitle of HR5 translates to sad letters. In turn, two distinct voices tell the tale of a relationship's joy, hope, depression, anger, distance, and resignation. I've always suspected it is his own story.
It's the subtitle of HR5, and it apparently suggests a program or concept for the piece. The 'elegy' part is obvious given that the main theme is in the style of a funeral march - but how about "Héroïde"? I can't find a definition for that one. If the piece is a musical tribute to someone's life, is it known if Liszt had anyone specific in mind?
"A héroïde is a term in French literature for a letter in verse, written under the name of a hero or famous author, derived from the Heroides by Ovid. It was invented by Charles-Pierre Colardeau."
"A héroïde is a term in French literature for a letter in verse, written under the name of a hero or famous author, derived from the Heroides by Ovid. It was invented by Charles-Pierre Colardeau."
French Wikipedia has far more than two sentences, which is why I was curious about a deeper understanding of the term.
"A héroïde is a term in French literature for a letter in verse, written under the name of a hero or famous author, derived from the Heroides by Ovid. It was invented by Charles-Pierre Colardeau."
French Wikipedia has far more than two sentences, which is why I was curious about a deeper understanding of the term.
Then why did your OP say you couldn't find a definition of the term?
Because at that point I hadn't found a definition of the term. YOU provided one, and that Wikipedia article had a link to the French article - which I had not seen.
Why do you sound so confrontative? Just doing your bit to support the culture of this forum?
Then why did your OP say you couldn't find a definition of the term?
Because at that point I hadn't found a definition of the term. YOU provided one, and that Wikipedia article had a link to the French article - which I had not seen.
Why do you sound so confrontative? Just doing your bit to support the culture of this forum?
Sorry, I guess I misunderstood. I took your reply
"French Wikipedia has far more than two sentences, which is why I was curious about a deeper understanding of the term."
as meaning that you'd already read the Frenk wiki article, and that was why you were looking for more information. Again, sorry.
I'm sorry that I jumped to a conclusion there, and I apologize to you for that - and to everyone else here who really does make an effort to be helpful.
I had inferred that 'héroïde' had at its root something to do with the English word 'hero', which your Wikipedia link confirmed. I was just hoping for something more specific.
