Composer Franz Liszt was a bit obsessed with death and the afterlife, allegedly going so far as to visit prison dungeons to see first-hand people sentenced to death. His interest in the macabre is often found in his work, with one of the most famous being the Totentanz (Dance of Death) for piano and orchestra. It's based on the "Dies Irae" Gregorian chant, but Liszt spins the centuries-old melody into a virtuosic and percussive piece that was modern for its time. Scott Drayco, the protagonist of my Scott Drayco crime series, and a pianist, himself, would undoubtedly have picked this as a perfect Halloween treat. Here's Alfred Brendel as soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Bernard Haitink:
Thanks. He's not my favorite composer of his era, but his interest in the macabre did help my appreciation of some of his work.
Posted by: Todd Mason | November 01, 2022 at 10:36 AM
Ditto! Although I'd still like to be able to step back in time to see him perform - it must have been quite an "event" since he was one of the first superstars of classical performing, especially pianists.
Posted by: BV Lawson | November 01, 2022 at 10:43 AM