Liszt: Via crucis
Liszt began composing "Via crucis" ("The 14 Stations of the Cross"), a Passion music for mixed chorus, soloists and organ or piano, while in Rome in the fall of 1878 and completed it in Budapest in February 1879. The work occupies a special place in Liszt's oeuvre, mainly because it is a work of great silence. In other words, it is one of the most desolate and uncompromising pieces of music I know! It is also a typical "avant-garde" piece of Liszt's late years - the work explores the boundaries of the tonality that had been common until then..jpg)
[By El Greco]
The work's fourteen short movements represent the Stations of the Cross, based on texts previously selected by Liszt's friend and former partner, Princess Carolyne, from the Bible and various hymns and chorales. Unison singing (Stations I and XIV) is combined with Lutheran hymns (Stations IV and XII) and Bach-inspired chorales (Stations VI), while some of the stations consist of solo parts for organ or piano. There is also a version for solo piano without choir and soloists (see below for both versions). In its simplicity of means and its modest cast, Via crucis is far removed from, say, Liszt's oratorio Christus. It is a sign of Liszt's craftsmanship that the sometimes seemingly disparate elements are nevertheless fashioned into a logical whole.
The Stations of the Cross is a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's journey to his crucifixion, beginning with his condemnation. The Stations are often used as a mini-pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station, where small icons, pictures, or paintings are displayed. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ's last day. The stations are most often prayed during Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, and especially on Good Friday, the day of the year when believers believe the events occurred.
Liszt himself wanted to perform the work in the Colosseum, accompanied by a giant harmonium. However, he never saw it performed (and couldn't even find a publisher for it - it was too far ahead of its time) - the first performance didn't take place until 43 years after the composer's death. It was premiered in Budapest on Good Friday, March 29, 1929, conducted by the composer Artúr Harmat, professor of church music at the Liszt Academy. The work was finally published in 1938.
Here are the 14 stages:
Introduction Vexilla Regis, text by Venantius Fortunatus
I. Jesus is sentenced to death. Innocens ergo sum, Matthew 27:24
II. Jesus takes the cross on his shoulders. A baritone sings Ave Crux, from the text at the beginning.
III. Jesus falls under the cross for the first time. Male choir sings Jesus cadit, female choir continues with Stabat Mater
IV. Jesus meets his mother. Organ solo
V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. Organ Solo
VI. Veronica wipes Jesus' face. Chorus O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden, lyrics Paul Gerhardt, melody Hans Leo Hassler
VII. Jesus falls for the second time. As station III
VIII. Jesus consoles the weeping women. A baritone voice sings Nolite flere super me, Luke 23:28.
IX. Jesus falls for the third time. Like station III
X. Jesus is stripped of his clothes. Organ Solo
XI. Jesus is nailed to the cross. Men's choir singing Crucifige, crucify him
XII. Jesus dies on the cross. A baritone sings Eli, Eli, In manus tuas, Consummatum est and the choir sings the chorale O Traurigkeit, words by Johann Rist.
XIII. Jesus is taken down from the cross. Organ solo
XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb. Partly Polyphonic Variation on Vexilla Regis from the Introduction.
Listen to the Carmine Celebrat Choir with solists and Pálúr János, organ:
Piano version played by Reinbert de Leeuw, in a music program made by the Dutch public broadcast organization VPRO:
Pianist and conductor Reinbert de Leeuw (1938) has been fascinated for decades by Liszt’s later works, especially Via Crucis. In 1986 he recorded this work with the Netherlands Chamber Choir, a recording that was rewarded with an Edison. In this online Lecture de Leeuw explains this special work by Franz Liszt.