During the 1830s, Franz Liszt embraced the romantic life of the medieval Troubadours. While in a relationship with the Countess Marie d’Agoult, Liszt wandered throughout the countryside of Switzerland and Italy, where he visited “places consecrated by history and poetry,” and found the “phenomena of nature” to be deeply stirring.
These travels formed the inspiration for Années de pèlerinage (“Years of Pilgrimage”), a three-volume cycle of 26 pieces for solo piano. The title refers to Goethe’s novel of artistic self-realization, Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship.
The cycle opens with La chapelle de Guillaume Tell. The work is a soaring homage to William Tell, the mountain climber and marksman who, according to legend, fought to liberate Switzerland from tyrannical Habsburg rule during the 14th century. The score is inscribed with a rousing quote from Schiller: “All for one–one for all.”
Filled with strength, solemnity, and valor, the opening chords develop into a noble hymn in C major. Perhaps there are faint echoes of the final movement of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony. Later, the music achieves a stunning spacial and atmospheric effect, as horn calls echo across Alpine valleys (2:27). The climax arrives with a sense of majesty and bravado that could only be Liszt. The hymn is now an exulted, heroic proclamation. Defiant rising horn calls ring out in the final bars.
Here is Lazar Berman’s landmark 1977 recording:
Recordings
- Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, Lazar Berman Amazon
Featured Image: “William Tell’s Chapel, Lake Geneva, Switzerland” (engraving), Albert Henry Payne
I love the pieces and the background information you send with it.
Thank You
What stirring and gorgeous piece of music. It just lifted me up! I knew nothing about William Tell (the man) until now so I appreciate learning that too. And now I’m going to listen to it again!