Franz Liszt was a Renaissance man; composer, pianist, teacher, author, philanthropist, and most surprisingly a Franciscan tertiary. Liszt was born in Hungary in 1811, but spent much of life in various parts of Europe including Paris, Weimar, and Rome. Though he is most known for his compositions for piano, he composed in a variety of styles and for orchestra, organ, and voice. Liszt wrote about 800 works and nearly half of them are transcriptions and arrangements for piano, many of which he played himself in performance.
Having gained immense popularity after 1842, especially among women, Liszt was doing so well financially that he was able to donate all of his earnings after 1857 to charity. Liszt became despondent and solitary in the 1860s after losing his 20-year old son and 26-year old daughter. Before his own death in 1886, Liszt composed the Hungarian coronation ceremony and gave extensive master classes around Europe.
Also on Virtually Vocal is ?Kling leise, mein Lied,? another German art song by Liszt.
German text:
O komm im Traum, komm in stillester Stunde,
wie einstens Laura Petrarc erschien zur Nacht,
daß mir dein Hauch heile jegliche Wunde,
wenn meinem Munde
ernahet sacht.
Wenn düstre Wolken die Stirn mir umsäumen,
die, ach, zu lang dem Herzen Leid gebracht,
du blickst, ein Stern, wie aus himmlischen Räumen,
daß in mein Träumen
ein Eden lacht.
Und deinem Mund meine Lippen erwähle,
weil ihre Glut, ach von Gott ward entfacht,
und werde Weib, du Engel ohne Fehle,
daß meine Seele
in Wonn' erwacht.
Oh! quand je dors, viens auprès de ma couche,
Oh, when I sleep, approach my bed,
comme à Pétrarque apparaissait Laura,
As had to Petrach appeared Laura,
Et qu'en passant ton haleine me touche...
And as you pass (with) your breath touch me?
Soudain ma bouche
Suddenly my mouth
S?entrouvrira!
Will part!
Sur mon front morne où peut-être s?achève
On my forehead dull where perhaps ends
Un songe noir qui trop longtemps dura,
a dream dark that too long lasted
Que ton regard comme un astre se lève?
That your gaze like a star it lifts?
Et soudain mon rêve
and once my dream
Rayonnera!
Will be radiant!
Puis sur ma lèvre où voltige une flamme,
Than on my lips where flitters a fire,
Éclair d'amour que Dieu même épura,
Flash of love that god hims purged,
Pose un baiser, et d'ange deviens femme?
kisses, and from angel become woman..
Soudain mon âme
Suddenly my soul
S?éveillera!
Will awaken!
Oh! viens!
Oh! come!
comme a Pétrarque apparaissait Laura!
as Laura appeared to Petrach!