Historical Hungarian Portraits

        In old age one may suffer the loss of friends and near contemporaries. This
        collection of piano music by Liszt is devoted largely to the dead, not least 

        Richard Wagner, who died in Venice in 1883. Liszt’s Historical Hungarian
        Portraits date largely from 1885.  Originally five pieces were assembled, 
        each to be preceded by a Hungarian poem, their order later changed by Liszt.

        The first piece, sparse in its texture and marked Feroce, commemorates the
        cavalry officer Count István Széchenyi (1791–1860), an early pioneer of
        reform in Hungary.  The failure of his policies, overtaken by a younger and
        more revolutionary generation led to depression, insanity and suicide.

        The second piece, its marked opening leading to a more lyrical mood, is
         a tribute to the statesman Jozsef Eötvös (1813–1871) writer, poet and
         novelist, a political moderate and supporter of Ferenc Deák.  The third
         portrait honours the poet and dramatist Mihály Vörösmarty (1800–1855),
         an exile after the failed  1848–49 revolution, but who returned to Hungary
         in 1850. His patriotic poem Szózat (‘Appeal’) was set by the composer
         Béni Egressy.

         The fourth portrait is dedicated to the politician Count László Teleki (1811–
         1861), exiled after the failed revolution of 1848–49, and later pardoned on
         condition that he refrained from his activities.  He committed suicide in
         1861, on the eve of a debate with the more moderate Ferenc Deák.  The
         portrait draws on music by Mosonyi for the death of Széchenyi and is
         related to Liszt’s Trauervorspiel und Trauermarsch.

         The fifth piece remembers Ferenc Deák (1803–1876), a statesman of 

         moderate views, still honored for his contributions to Hungarian political
         reform. Liszt’s portrait includes more of traditional Hungarian music than
         he starker preceding pieces.

         The sixth historical portrait is of the poet Sándor Petőfi (1822–1849), an
         important figure in the revolution of 1848–49, in which he was killed.
         It is marked Lento and dolente, moving to less stark figuration.  Mihály
         Mosonyi (1815–1870), born Michael Brand, a German name which he
         surrendered in favor of a Hungarian, is the only musician included in
         Liszt’s historical gallery and the longest of the tributes.  Liszt once more
         has recourse to the sound of tolling bells, initially here in the
         lower register of the piano.