Liszt Consolation In Db Major

Franz Liszt’s Consolation No.3 In Db major is a simple but elegant masterpiece. To say Liszt and simple in the same sentence, when describing one of his piano works, almost sounds like an oxymoron as he is most known for his exceedingly difficult and challenging repertoire; yet here he has blessed us with this simple gem.

When I first heard this piece in 2016, it was love at first listen. I was enraptured by the beautiful flowing melody and the simple soothing pattern of the left hand. When I first started learning this piece a picture did not immediately come to mind as I was still in the learning phase. My largest struggle with this piece was lining up the polyrhythms between the right and left hands. Once I had mastered these, the challenge then became not overthinking it and keeping the fine balance of being expressive, but also in time, not too much rubato, nor too robotic. After I had mastered all of these, I was finally able to truly enjoy the piece and the image that this piece invokes for me flowed subtly into my mind like a gentle breeze against your face at midnight. A fairy, or female spirit, sitting next to a stream and singing to the moon as the waters flow calmly at her feet. Each and every time I play this piece, these are the images that come into my imagination vividly, and I feel as though I am there as she serenades the night.