Dark and melancholic, yet lyrical and lovely, the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 is one of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies that Franz Liszt composed between 1846-1853 and in 1882 and 1885. He borrowed melodies from actual Hungarian folk songs and emulated the color, rhythm and spirit of that musical style, popular at the time. (Brahms too, wrote Hungarian Rhapsodies.)
Notes from pianist Dr. Duane Hulbert:
1) The 5th Rhapsody begins with pathos and drama, starting from the first dotted rhythms. (0:02)
2) At measure 5, (0:32) Liszt takes the dotted rhythms and with a descending bass line that adds to the tension.
3) At (1:00), a lyrical line begins, espressivo assai (very expressive). The theme is now embellished with sixteenth note arpeggios that rise up in the left hand.
4) At (1:46), Liszt adds a new theme with a gorgeous lyrical melody. He writes the following markings in the score: "cantabile" (singing), "dolcissimo" (sweetly), "sempre legato" (always smoothly) and "una corda" (put the soft pedal down for special effect).
5) Suddenly at (2:17), a dramatic "rinforzando" marking indicates a dramatic line of downward descending 16th notes. Finally, a cadenza that brings us back to the opening theme.
6) At (2:28), the opening E minor theme returns with an even more dramatic passage at (3:22) marked "molto appassionato".
5) A beautiful E major key changes the mood with a quiet lyrical theme at 3:59, followed by a brilliant cadenza passage at (4:31).
6) At (4:42), a new sweet melody is heard, accompanied by rolling left hand chords.
7) At (5:14), Liszt starts a long build up to a climax.
8)At (5:29) Liszt writes "dolce sempre" (very sweet) but "appassionato" (passionate) which slowly increases with intensity. At (5:44), Liszt writes "crescendo stringendo" (louder and pushing ahead).
The high point at (6:00) is marked "con somma passione." (with a Great Passion!).
9) Finally, the fiery passage slowly dissipates into a return of the opening theme at (6:20).
10) But Liszt is not finished with his drama; he adds a fortissimo line of octaves (7:02) that eventually disappear quietly back to the opening theme in E minor.
Dr. Hulbert received his BA and MM from The Juilliard School of Music and his DMA from The Manhattan School of Music. Hulbert received the Gold Medal at the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and also won prizes in the 1981 Leeds Competition and 1985 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. He has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the United States and has given recitals at Merkin Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In 2002, his recording of the piano works of Alexander Glazunov was nominated for a Grammy Award. Dr. Hulbert taught at the university level for over thirty years.
If you value classical music, please subscribe to our channel. Thank you!
.