Franz Liszt - Via Crucis (1879)

Franz Liszt (Hungarian: Liszt Ferencz, in modern usage Liszt Ferenc 22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a prolific 19th-century Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger, organist, philanthropist, author, nationalist and a Franciscan tertiary during the Romantic era.

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Via Crucis (1876-79)
Librettist : Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus (ca.530-ca.609) (Einleitung)
Paul Gerhardt (1607−1676) (No.6)
Johann Rist (1607–1667) (No.12)

Einleitung. Vexilla Regis ("O Crux, Ave!") (0:00)
Station I. Jesus wird zum Tode verdammt (5:07)
Station II. Jesus trägt sein Kreuz (6:05)
Station III. Jesus fällt zum ersten Mal (8:23)
Station IV. Jesus begegnet seiner heiligen Mutter (9:57)
Station V. Simon von Kyrene hilft Jesus das Kreuz tragen (12:25)
Station VI. Sancta Veronica ("O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden") (15:34)
Station VII. Jesus fällt zum zweiten Mal (18:46)
Station VIII. Die Frauen von Jerusalem ("Nolite flere super me, sed super vos ipos et super filios vestros") (20:21)
Station IX. Jesus fällt zum dritten Mal (22:58)
Station X. Jesus wird entkleidet (24:39)
Station XI. Jesus wird ans Kreuz gsechlagen ("Crucifige") (26:25)
Station XII. Jesus stirbt am Kreuze ("Eli, Eli, lamma Sabacthani") (27:22)
Station XIII. Jesus wird kom Kreuz genommen (36:43)
Station XIV. Jesus wird ins Grab gelegt ("Ave Crux, spes unica") (41:00)

Rachel Platt and Penny Vickers, soprano
Joyce Jarvis, mezzo-soprano
Jeremy White, baritone (Christus)
Patrick Ardagh-Walter, bass (Pilatus)
Wayne Marshall at the organ of St. John-at-Hackney
Taverner Choir conducted by Andrew Parrott

Via crucis (Die 14 Stationen des Kreuzwegs) is a work for mixed choir, soloists and organ (also harmonium or piano). The work is devoted to the Stations of the Cross. It is one of the last works of Liszt.

Liszt started the composition of this work in the fall of 1878 when he stayed in Rome and ended it in February 1879 in Budapest. There are three sources of the work available: the first sketches in Weimar, the manuscript of the whole work in Budapest and a copy of it in Weimar. The original version was set with accompaniment by organ. Liszt made later a version with piano.

The work is a special case in the oeuvre of Liszt, especially because it is a work of great serenity. The work is also special because it reaches the limits of the till then prevailing tonality. The work combines unison songs (Stations I and XIV) with Lutheran chorales (Stations IV and XII), and chorales inspired by Bach's chorales (Station VI), whereas other stations consist of solo organ (or piano). Liszt self wanted to perform the work in the Colosseum, with accompaniment by harmonium.