Liszt Faust Symphony

What interesting textural feature appears in the 3rd movement?

A fugue made up of distorted themes

When was this composed?

1857

What happens at fig. H of the 3rd movement?

Lower strings play mocking version of Faust's 2nd theme

What is the harmony at the beginning of the 1st movement?

12 note chromatic scale in 4 descending augmented triads

What is the size of the orchestra in Liszt's piece?

Very large

What is the structure of the piece?

3 movement structure with the 1st movement

What is the structure of the first movement?

Sonata Form

What is the influence of Mannheim on Liszt's piece?

Allowed for more experimental melody and harmony

How challenging was this piece considered at the time?

Incredibly challenging

What is the tonal center at the beginning of the 1st movement?

It is ambiguous due to its chromatic nature

What is the harmony of the 2nd movement?

Mostly diatonic with chromatic chords

What is the thematic transformation that happens in the 3rd movement?

Distorted versions of each character's themes

What is the significance of the introduction of Liszt's piece?

Uses all 12 notes of the chromatic scale

In terms of expression, how does this differ from the classical period?

It is much more artistically expressive

What is the reason for composers being more experimental during this period?

Writing on free-lance commissions

What is the significance of the lack of tonal center at the beginning of the 1st movement?

Completely unheard of (could be seen as planting the seeds for expressionism and serialism around 50 years before their conception)

What is the significance of Liszt's ability to push the boundaries of music?

He had the freedom to write what he wanted to write

In general, how does the harmony in the second movement compare with that of the first movement?

Not as challenging as the 1st movement

What is the form of the second movement?

3-part form

What is the character of the second movement based on?

Gretchen (Faust's love)

Why did Liszt use the second slow movement?

Programmatic reasons to show a more loving side of the story

What is the form of the third movement?

Scherzo in 3-part form with extra development section and coda

What does the Fugue in the fourth movement feature?

All 9 themes, distorting all of them

What is unclear during the opening of the piece?

Whether we are in Ab or Fm

What plays the main theme of the second movement?

Oboe supported by solo viola (unusual pairing)

What is the extra-musical influence of the piece?

Based on the German book 'Faust' by Goethe; each character has a dedicated movement with multiple themes (bar Mephisto's)

How does this feature cyclic form?

All 9 themes are used in the final movement

What is Faust's theme made up of?

Augmented triads representing his thirst for knowledge

What is peculiar about Faust's theme?

It could be argued it is bordering on atonality