The Journey of the Rhapsody from Liszt to Freddie
Lecture
Pop
Szervezés:
The Journey of the Rhapsody from Liszt to Freddie
This programme is held in Hungarian.
We examine the genre under a magnifying glass. The rhapsody has taken a long and exciting journey: countless composers have turned to it from the 19th century up to the present day, and its popularity has remained unbroken ever since. Its roots can be traced back to antiquity, while its form crystallized in the 18th–19th centuries. It became truly decisive in the Romantic era – thanks in no small part to Ferenc Liszt. But how do Freddie Mercury and Bohemian Rhapsody come into the picture? We will follow this special musical arc.
The Greek word “rhapsodos” originally meant a singer, a performer: someone who recited or sang poems. The ancient Greek rhapsodes performed excerpts from Homer’s epics, so the rhapsody was at first an epic literary form with a freer, more fragmented structure. As a musical genre it crystallized later, in the 18th–19th centuries, and became really popular in the Romantic era – above all thanks to the work of Ferenc Liszt. The Hungarian Rhapsodies written for piano are most characterized by free form, strong emotional charge, virtuosity and an improvisatory quality. If we look at the composers of the genre, the term “bohemian” fits almost all of them: liberal-minded creators independent of conventions, who lived in the moment and sought this freedom in their art as well. This afternoon we will also touch on the music of Ferenc Liszt, Gershwin, Rachmaninov, Ravel – and of course Freddie Mercury. The presenter of our special Hangadó Senior programme, linked to our temporary exhibition, is Dóra Tápai, conductor, music teacher and music educator at the House of Music Hungary.What can you expect? A pleasant atmosphere, exciting stories and excellent music.
Dear Visitor, We kindly inform you that during the event, photographs, audio recordings, and/or video recordings may be taken. By attending the event, you consent to the recording of such materials through your implied conduct.
