Liszt - Légende No. 2, S175 (György Cziffra)

The second piece from the numinous Deux légendes, some of Liszt's finest examples of conjuring up natural imagery at the keyboard.

Also known as "St. Francis of Paola walking on the waves", the piece is based on the well-known story of St. Francis of Paola being turned away by the boat-man at the ferry-crossing of the Straits of Messina because he could not afford the fare. "If he is a saint," remarked the boatman, "let him walk." Whereupon St. Francis having blessed his cloak in the name of God, placed it on the waters, lifted up one part of it like a sail, and floated safely across the straits to the other side. When the boatman saw what had happened, he fell on his knees, implored pardon for his refusal, and begged the saint to return to the boat. "But God, for the glory of His holy name... caused him to refuse this offer and to arrive in port before the boat." Remarkably, the narrative background to the piece in no way hampers Liszt from devising a very satisfying musical structure: we hear the menacing sound of the waves (brought out by Cziffra astoundingly - 1:57!) and the tremendous swell of the waters, and through it all there sounds the "St Francis" theme, floating serenely across the landscape.