Liszt's "Venezia e Napoli" incorporates themes from various sources, including an Italian folk song (also set by Beethoven), a piece by Rossini, and a tarantella by Guillaume-Louis Cottrau.
Compositional Technique
Ferruccio Busoni's arrangement of Bach's Chaconne for solo violin expands the acoustic possibilities by transcribing it for piano, requiring the pianist to perform like an organist.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Felix Mendelssohn and César Franck, two composers featured on the album, looked to the Prelude and Fugue form, specifically inspired by J.S. Bach.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt, also featured composers, drew inspiration from Italian folk traditions in their works on this album.
Composition History
The E minor fugue from Mendelssohn's Op. 35 is believed to be a personal homage, depicting the progress of a disease that destroyed his dying friend, Hanstein.
Album & Artwork
The album is titled "Homages" and explores the idea of composers making "something new from the old" by looking to earlier forms or folk traditions.
Composition History
Mendelssohn's Preludes and Fugues, Op. 35, were predicted by the composer himself to be "little played" because the fugue form was no longer fashionable.
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