Introduction

Hungary is widely known in the world of music for its passion for music. The most common type of music is the gypsy kind of music which is synonymous with a campfire. Nevertheless, most of the Hungarians are resentful to gypsy music. The Hungarians have a great appreciation in gypsy fiddlers since they consider it as their music and not gypsy music. Folk music has been on the rise since the seventies which has been attributed to the non-gypsy origin. The concept of gypsy music is better explained   by Franz Liszt, who is known to have a great passion for gypsy music. Franz Liszt’s work of 1853 gives a better account of the Hungarian Rhapsodies.

Formation and Development of the “Rhapsody.”

History of Rhapsody

The history of Hungarian Rhapsody squarely lies in the hands of Franz Liszt, who is regarded as one of the greatest pianists in history. He had great passion, skills and techniques to play the piano that every pianist in the world would envy.  After receiving great inspiration from the gypsy folk songs, Franz Liszt used their rhythm as well as the scales to accomplish a collection of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies. His life in the Rhapsodies is referred to as The Virtuoso Period (1839-1847). During his period, he managed to compose several notable keyboard works that included Grandes etudes de Paganini and Etudes execution transcedante, and the last three were composed during his last years.

One of the most notable works of Liszt is the composition of Hungarian Rhapsody No.2.  This was his work of 1847 which became very popular within the culture of the Hungary population. Combining his skills as a teacher, composer and a pianist, Liszt encapsulated the musical ideals and passions of his time more than any other musician. He was known for his passion for discovering and learn more about the piano and new musical techniques and forms.

The composition of Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2  accomplished after visiting Hungary several times where he observed gypsies and  listened to their folksongs. He used this experience to transcribe and develop motives and themes into great piano works. This work received applause not only in the Hungarian Rhapsodies but also Magyar Dallok and Magyar Rhapsody. Most of the Hungarian folk songs which had melodies with an Asian origin had similarities with Gypsies of Hungary. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 may sound a bit cosmopolitan to a true Hungarian due to the presence of Hungarian themes. However, they had a great coherent with the art of folk song transcription.

Hungarian Rhapsody was mostly inspired by the art of folk song mainly the rhythms and the melodies. However, Liszt ensured that he used his own style and technical knowledge to make the Hungarian Rhapsody a success. Beginning with slow, smooth melodic lines with grace notes and cadenzas that are reminiscent of the Gypsy folk-song style, Liszt gradually incorporates more and more traditional gypsy styles, especially in the rhythm as expressed in the figure below;

In this work, Liszt used his piano expertise by incorporating the traditional gypsy rhythmic figure of a 16th note which was followed by 30 second rest and then a thirty-second note. By beginning with the penning notes, Liszt demonstrates gypsy inspiration in the melody that continues throughout his masterpiece in a distinct style.   The Rhapsody gradually builds to lightning fast, yet elegant frenzy, arriving with full force into the middle section that is full of Liszt’s characteristic risky leaps and thunderous, rapid chord changes, as shown in the figure;

Liszt continues this theme for nearly the rest of the work, slowing only for a brief moment and a melodic variation on the original theme, then returning to the thunderous rapid chord changes with repeating notes leading up to the final cadence.  The work of Liszt proved difficult for the other pianists such that they decided to decline the invitation to perform a cadenza. As a result of this declination, the other pianists have also come up with their versions of Rhapsodies. For instance in 1997, Marc-André Hamelin performed a cadenza that was lauded for its originality, musicality, and playfulness. Another musician who played a great role in the history of Rhapsody is Sergei Rachmaninoff, who also wrote a famous cadenza for his interpretation. Though Liszt had written several cadenzas, other pianists found it difficult to perform and thus different versions of Rhapsody with different cadenzas and beyond.

Founder of the “Rhapsody.”

Franz Liszt is the father of Rhapsody, who is known to have written over 19 pieces of Rhapsodies. All of these rhapsodies were played as a solo pianist but it worth to note that some have been scored for orchestra. He is known to begin playing piano at a tender age and was quickly discovered to be a prodigious thus making his debut at the age of nine in a Ries in Odenburg. The performance made him very popular and just a month after the Odenburg concert, Liszt again performed at Esterhazy palaces. This presented him a chance to meet with noble Hungarians who raised some money for him to learn music in Vienna. After a year in the Czerny school of music in Vienna, Liszt’s parents decided to search green pastures for their son, and they transferred him to Paris. However, he was denied access to the director simply because he was a foreigner. His parents decided to hire teachers who would teach him composition and music theory. This was a wise decision as Liszt became a notable pianist and a composer before attaining eighteen years. He had also made several trips to England and had an increasing portfolio of the increased number of variety and compositions.

Sadly, his father passes on 1827 which made Liszt disappear from the public for a period of three years due to depression. In 1830, Liszt decided to enroll in a formal school to gain formal education like his fellow countrymen. It is also during this period that he joined the Saint-Simonian movement, a push for the removal of all hereditary rights. The movement also aimed at reorienting social institutions towards improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable class. It is also during this period that he mastered the piano in ways that no any other pianist had managed before.

After completion of the formal schooling, Liszt had become a renowned pianist and a performer in many parts of Europe. He had attended several concerts as a solo pianist where he performed with an intensity such that most of the people believed that he had demonic connections. It was during this virtuoso period that Liszt was also beginning  to be known for his technical innovations: the Liszt octaves (octaves played with alternating hands with the thumbs overlapping), interlocking scales (two scales played at the same time with overlapping hands), and risky leaps.

The conclusion of Virtuoso Years brought an end to Liszt traveling in Europe and his solo performances. During this period, Liszt had managed to establish himself as one of the best composers. His conducting techniques had also improved significantly which enabled him compose a vast body of harmonically radical works such as A Faust Symphony. It is after this successful period that he moved to Italy where he accomplished the oratorio Christus in 1867. In 1886, Rhapsody hero and founder died in Budapest after the composition of more than 1300 works and gaining a lot of fame both as a composer and a pianist.

How Franz Liszt develops the “Rhapsody.”

Minority Nationality and Folk music in Hungarian Rhapsody

The issue of nationality in Hungary is a thorny concept that has more questions than answer. The reformation of the Habsburg Empire of 1867 as Austro-Hungarian dual monarch was founded on the basis of equal cultural rights for all its nationalities. Hungarians instituted a law of nationalities in 1868 which had a clear prescription of what every Hungarian was expected to do. The law proposed unity of all the Hungarians as members of one nation. The law condemned the issue of nationality and proposed that every citizen had equal rights regardless of his nationality.

However, it is imperative to note that the issue of nationality was being propagated in Hungary by the   Magyar. The use of this concept brought about two different conceptions; Hungarians which was a wide geographical term that embraced the whole territory of St. Stephen and Magyar which is an ethnic term representing one of the many nationalities in Hungary. The issue is escalated by the population who refer to the Magyar as the ‘’ruling race’’ rather than the ‘’Hungarian nation.’’ For a long time, the Magyar advocated their political unity and in the course sidelines the other Hungarians which make the issue of nationalities more apparent. The discrimination has also gone a step further by making Magyar a state language and the language of business in the parliament.

Magyarization policy remained in lace and as a result, the issue of minority nationalities became inherent. The other Hungarians apart from the Jews believed that they would not benefit from the Magyars and continued to push for equity. In an attempt to express their dissatisfaction with the Magyars’ dominance, an assembly was formed in 1895 which represented the Romanians, Slovaks and the Serbs where a twenty one-point program was published. In the program, the second point asserted that the idea of a Magyar national state is a contradiction of the ethical conditions of Hungary and that this was a threat to the coexistence with the rest of the Hungarians. The assembly also resolved to form a league that would protect their nationalities in all legal ways. The assembly also hoped that the Ruthenes and the Germans would also join them.

The minority nationalities’ rejection of the “Hungarian idea” led to the eventual dismemberment of the kingdom.  All the areas where non-Magyars were in a majority voted, following the Treaty of Trianon, to join neighboring countries. In particular, Liszt’s true countrymen, the Germans who formed the majority of his native region (which they called Deutsch-Westungarn [German Western Hungary]), decided (except for the city of Sopron/Ödenburg) to join the similarly truncated Austria, which at first was called Deutsch-Österreich (German Austria) before the name was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain. It is believed that if any descendants of Sebastian Liszt, that is, Franz Liszt’s kinfolk were still living there, they would have voted the same way. This has complicated the issue of identifying the origin of Franz Liszt though it is believed that he had a German origin.

Most of the Liszt work was inspired Gypsy folk-song rhythms and melodies. However, his expertise in the piano made his work excellent which other pianists found difficult to match. His ability to travel in many countries offered him a chance to listen to folksongs and watch gypsy which played a significantly role during his composition work. The rhapsodies became the people’s favorite thus making Liszt to work tirelessly to accomplish his compositions. Although he was a Hungarian, his passion for folk songs was very instrumental in his composition and performances. Liszt also used several themes which he heard in his native western Hungary which are believed to be folk music.

Soul of the nation and Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies

Many scholars have strived to understand Liszt’s nationality and his Hungarian Rhapsodies. Most of the people question the   aspects of Hungary nationality present in his musical work and how Hungarian is Liszt himself. Liszt was born in Raiding in a period when the Hungary people were fighting identity crisis and independence. This was a village of the old Hungarian states which later became part of Australia after the 1st world war and the treaty of St Germain. It is also during this time the ethnic minorities were recognized by their languages. He had a German ancestry and this made things more complicated for him. Liszt had no chance to learn Hungarian and only spoke in French throughout his adult life. With all this information, it was difficult to take Liszt as a Hungarian even though he had great passion for traditional Hungarian music and traditions. Liszt spent most of his personal time observing and listening to gypsy interpretations of this music.

From his actions, it is clear that Liszt had strong nationalistic feelings and support for the nationalist movement in Hungary. It is clear that he had a soul for the nation.  This is reflected by his donning of a national costume in a concert tour and playing an arrangement of unofficial Hungarian national anthem. His actions were treated with contempt by the Magyars but the other Hungarians were full of praise especially after playing it in Transylvania.

Although he received musical education in Vienna and Paris, Liszt still had passion of listening to music of gypsies. Listening to this music made him feel and think that he was listening to Hungarian music, but many people at the time thought that he was just listening to popular melodies of the time. His book of 1859 added more doubt into this issue where he focused on gypsies and not the Magyar people. It has however been proved that Liszt listened to traditional Hungarian music with gypsy interpretations. In his Hungarian Rhapsodies, Liszt used Hungarian gypsy scale

Background of Hungarian Rhapsodies

Overview of Hungary

Hungary is a landlocked country with a history of more than a thousand years. Over these years, the country has had great vents, battles, kings, allies enemies and peaceful years. The country inhabits nomads believed to have moved to the Carpathian basin from the East.  The state was founded by King Stephen in 1000 and recommended catholic as the standard religion. The king was blessed and crowned with the Holy Crown of Hungary by the pope. The crown is displayed in the parliament building to date. Thy e country is bordered by Ukraine Slovakia, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, and Romania.

The ancestral inhabitants of Hungary are the Magyar who moved in the Carpathian basin in 896. Hungarian language is different from any of its neighboring countries and is only partially related to Estonian and Finnish. The countries capital city is Budapest which was as a result of a merger between two cities Buda and Pest. Hungary is endowed with some natural resources such as coal, bauxite and natural gases. The country has rich fertile soils and arable land which has resulted to majority of its citizens being farmers. Wines from Hungary are enjoyed in most parts of Europe. Hungary also enjoys manufacturing of electric and electronic equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, and machinery.

Most importantly,   the country has high affiliation to music especially the traditional folk songs. The great taste of music has been a source of inspiration to a great number of musicians such as Bartok, Liszt, and Kodaly. The country also has other prominent personalities such as Szent-Gyorgyi, who discovered the existence of vitamin C and Nobel peace prize winner Imre Kertész. It is imperative to note that the country was in wars over the years until it got its independence in 1989.

Introduction of Hungarian folk music

Hungary has made a lot of contribution in the music world in different fields ranging from classical, folk and popular music. However, it is important to understand that folk music has great significant in giving identity to the country and its music history. The history of folk song ranges way back to the 11th century even if there are no sufficient records to the effects. Most of the Hungarian population did not understand this concept and just thought they were enjoying their best tunes. By the 19th century, Hungarians had a better understanding to the concept since most of the collections and music work had folk styles and rhythms. Most of the performances during this period were disseminated throughout the nation via folk theater that was derived from the art of folk. The use of the folk style in artistic and musical work resulted in the ‘Gypsy music’.

By this time, several folk-style art songs had gained popularity among the Hungarians.  The increase in the Hungarian folksongs had reached significant levels as the majority of the population had come to terms with the art. Several researchers had also noted several improvements in the field as melodic and rhythms that resonated folk songs could be noted. Hungarian folk songs were taken to another level after introduction to the formal Hungarian education center. Children were introduced to folk songs and they could sing them in classes as well as use them as musical games. However, it is important to note that the Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt had a great role in the introduction of folk songs in the Hungary music sector.

Introduction of Gypsy Music

Hungarian folk music and the gypsy music have a strong organic connection.  It is important to note that the Gypsy music including dance is part of the Hungarian folk genre.  Hungarians have therefore enjoyed the Gypsy music for a very long time. The gypsies in Hungary have been in existence since the 15th century after the king had given the freedom of movement.

The increasing popularity in Gypsy music resulted in the formation of several bands that performed this music in Hungary. Folk Ensemble and the Rajko Orchestra have for a long time been known for preserving the Hungarian Roma music, culture costume and dance. It is important to understand that the work of these groups carried traditions of old gypsy dynasties.  These groups gained popularity both at home and abroad where they had chances to perform in different venues especially in the capital city Budapest.

Gypsy music has also been introduced in Hungary through a formation referred to as Ando Drom.  It was established in1993 by Jenő Zsigó with a purpose of serving to promote Roman artistic work and encourage young talent. The group had several performances of the Roman music and dance thus enhancing penetration of gypsy music in Hungary.  Liszt also observed gypsy music and listened to folksong to compose the Hungarian Rhapsodies. This clearly indicates that gypsy music also had an immense contribution to the Hungarian Rhapsodies.

How Folk Music and Gypsy Music are reflected in the Hungarian Rhapsodies

Folk music melodies are referred

Liszt work on Hungarian Rhapsody was greatly inspired by the gypsy folk song rhythm and melodies. It is important to note that Liszt spent most of his time traveling in different parts of Europe where he experienced folk songs in abundance. He began his composition with slow and smooth melodic lines accompanied with grace notes and cadenzas that are similar to the gypsy folk song.   As the performance continued, Liszt incorporated more speed and gypsy folk styles. The melodies were even exhibited more clearly by his expertise in playing the piano.

Imitation of folk instruments acoustics

Playing of folk songs requires high levels of expertise especially when it comes to instruments. The artist must ensure that the instruments are played in such a way that the listeners get maximum satisfaction from the performance. Use of vibrato in a performance is aimed at adding warmth to a note. When playing an instrument whether string instrument or the piano, change in tone or the vibrato has great significant to the quality of sound radiated. Proper tuning can be of great importance especially to a soloist since he can be heard more clearly especially if playing with a large orchestra. In essence, the direction of the sound and note of the instrument are critical to the quality of the sound. This directional effect is intended to interact with the room acoustics to add interest to the sound.

Analysis of Hungarian Rhapsodies and How those folk elements are reflected in details

Scales

Hungarian Rhapsodies have different elements of gypsy and folk music that are essential for artistic work. For instance, scales are notable folk elements that are inevitable in a piece of Hungarian rhapsodies.  From the Rhapsody No. 2 played by Liszt, it is evident that scales play a significant role in making a performance more attractive to the audience. He made sure that the effects of the scales are clearly reflected as he exhibited his expertise in playing the piano. A lot of technical innovations were witnessed during the virtuoso period as Liszt octaves.  The octaves were played with alternating hands with the thumbs overlapping.  Interlocking scales are also evident in the Hungarian Rhapsody. It refers to a situation where two scales played at the same time with overlapping hands.

Modes

Hungarian Rhapsody was also greatly impacted by the modes used and the tunes. A proper combination of modes and tones has a great impact on the overall quality of the performance. The effects of folk modes are better expressed by the work of Bartok who realized that pleasant tunes could replace the traditional major/minor tonality. The mode is by great extent determined by the mode and Bartok’s work ensured that he had melodies those circles around a given mode within a narrow range. Old modes could be loosened through chromatic ornamentation thereby achieving a pleasant tune. To better the performance, he always experimented poly-modality where he realized that simultaneous use of major and minor sonorities would provide excellent results.

Technique of variation

Another aspect of folklore experienced in the Hungarian Rhapsody is technique variation. It is always important to understand that constant repetition of techniques will bring about boredom during performances. The technique variation is also depicted by the work of Bartok. He had the technique of superimposing independent streams of chords, quarterly harmony, and cluster chords. The superimposing technique ensured that the chords run in parallel seventh and ninth seconds. Bartok also had the technique of playing repeated notes and passages on repeated patterns. His work became very popular due to his ability to use color for projecting ideas.

–    Musical structure

The structure of the musical work is also another important factor that affected the Hungarian Rhapsody. It is the structure itself that makes the musical work attractive to the audience or not.  For instance, Liszt’s work of Rhapsody is mainly based on the Hungarian music gypsy. The use a solo piano and later rearranging it to an orchestra was a significant step in the musical structure. The structure used by Liszt ensured a slow start followed by a fast dance like on. The structure and the tone of the rhapsodies reflected a lot of folklore.

Bartok on the other hand had a different music structure with a series of six quartets and led to achieving a major musical achievement. He had the taste to device more and more accompaniments for the melodies by shifting emphasis on original tune to the total effect of its presentation.

–    Technique of playing

The playing technique also has impacts on the outcome of the musical work. Both Liszt and Bartok had great Hungarian music talents and played the keyboard. However, it is imperative to understand that their folklore effects were totally different. While Liszt had a slow start and gained speed gradually, Bartok was concerned with the melody accompaniment.   The technique of play will lead to change in musical style. For instance, Bartok was more concerned with the melodies. Chopin melodies are of two types.  The balanced eight-bar melodies which are similar to operatic aria and more freely structured and continuously unfolding melodies, similar to operatic arioso are the common melodies. Playing technique and technique variation have almost similar effects to the overall quality of music work.

 
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