Liszt: " Hymne de l'enfant à son réveil " from " Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses " Video
The less flamboyant pieces from "Harmonies poétiques et religleuses" are not so often played, and I can appreciate that some might find their sentiment saccharine. Given their religious connections, I think the best preparation to play these pieces is to watch on TV some of the special services from the Vatican broadcast on EWTN and elsewhere, and listen to the unsophisticated but fervent singing of the choirs there. It is a world away from the Anglican church music with which I am more familiar, but close, I'm sure, to what Liszt would have heard on his visits to Rome. This 'Hymn on the child's awakening' is based on a moving poem by Lamartine. It is difficult to give the gist of it in translation, so here it is:
Ô père qu'adore mon père!
Toi qu'on ne nomme qu'à genoux!
Toi, dont le nom terrible et doux
Fait courber le front de ma mère!
On dit que ce brillant soleil
N'est qu'un jouet de ta puissance;
Que sous tes pieds il se balance
Comme une lampe de vermeil.
On dit que c'est toi qui fais naître
Les petits oiseaux dans les champs,
Et qui donne aux petits enfants
Une âme aussi pour te connaître!
On dit que c'est toi qui produis
Les fleurs dont le jardin se pare,
El que, sans toi, toujours avare,
Le verger n'aurait point de fruits.
Aux dons que ta bonté mesure
Tout l'univers est convié;
Nul insecte n'est oublié
À ce festin de la nature.
L'agneau broute le serpolet,
La chèvre s'attache au cytise,
La mouche au bord du vase puise
Les blanches gouttes de mon lait!
L'alouette a la graine amère
Que laisse envoler le glaneur,
Le passereau suit le vanneur,
Et l'enfant s'attache à sa mère.
Et, pour obtenir chaque don,
Que chaque jour tu fais éclore,
À midi, le soir, à l'aurore,
Que faut-il? prononcer ton nom!
Ô Dieu! ma bouche balbutie
Ce nom des anges redouté.
Un enfant même est écouté
Dans le choeur qui te glorifié !
On dit qu'il aime à recevoir
Les voeux présentés par l'enfance,
À cause de cette innocence
Que nous avons sans le savoir.
On dit que leurs humbles louanges
A son oreille montent mieux,
Que les anges peuplent les cieux,
Et que nous ressemblons aux anges!
Ah! puisqu'il entend de si loin
Les voeux que notre bouche adresse,
Je veux lui demander sans cesse
Ce dont les autres ont besoin.
Mon Dieu, donne l'onde aux fontaines,
Donne la plume aux passereaux,
Et la laine aux petits agneaux,
Et l'ombre et la rosée aux plaines.
Donne au malade la santé,
Au mendiant le pain qu'il pleure,
À l'orphelin une demeure,
Au prisonnier la liberté.
Donne une famille nombreuse
Au père qui craint le Seigneur,
Donne à moi sagesse et bonheur,
Pour que ma mère soit heureuse!
Que je sois bon, quoique petit.,
Comme cet enfant dans le temple,
Que chaque matin je contemple,
Souriant au pied de mon lit.
Mets dans mon âme la justice,
Sur mes lèvres la vérité,
Qu'avec crainte et docilité
Ta parole en mon coeur mûrisse!
Et que ma voix s'élève à toi
Comme cette douce fumée
Que balance l'urne embaumée
Dans la main d'enfants comme moi !
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk
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clavis55: This is one of my favourite pieces from Liszt's Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses and you play it very well! I like the "Sacred" Piano Music from Liszt. Another great piece is the Benediction. Thank you for uploading!
stambox: What a beautiful interpretation! Bravo! We seldom hear quiet, introspective music these days. Much appreciated.
PSearPianist: Thank you for that. I have worked on the 'Benediction', but do not have a big enough stretch to do it justice. Therefore I leave it to pianists better physically equipped to play it!
PSearPianist: Thank you - you are quite right in what you say. Maybe we have substituted contemporary contemplative music by Messiaen, Part and others in our repertoires for similar pieces by Liszt.
ADUM300: i love how you play! your so talented. you inspire me to play like you someday!
PSearPianist: Thank you - that's a very kind comment. Good luck with your own piano study!
Babejuda: This is pure. Not "saccharine". And you played it pure. Beautiful. Thanks also for the detailed info.
PSearPianist: Thank you. Of course, I don't think it is saccharine myself, but I know that others have that opinion, which is why so many of Liszt's religious-leaning pieces are not played much.
gypcnme: This is a beautiful piece and you play it beautifully as well. thank you
PSearPianist: That's very kind. Thank you!
jannarta: I last heard this played in Caen Cathedral in 1949 . It was still badly damaged and I was with a party dealing with ordnance. In the congregation were some who took part in Operation Overlord 6 Juine 1944 and they proudly wore their Medal presented to them by the French Government it was a gold medal with the Landing Beaches on the front and the reverse side is the Torch of Freedom surrounded by the device of William the Conqueror "DIEX AIE" ( 'God is with us' in Norman French) Thanks Janarta
PSearPianist: That's an interesting story - thank you!
Rouletabille100: Very good choice, I discover this piece. I like very much, it is profound, not "saccharine" . I will look to play it with my harp !
PSearPianist: That would be wonderful. Liszt liked the harp, and wrote several choral pieces with harp accompaniment.
Rouletabille100: Yes that's right and I played some of them. I would be very grateful if you can tell me the name of the editor from the piece, it will be easier to buy it ! Thank you a lot .
PSearPianist: I played from a Belwin Mills reprint of the old Emil Sauer edition. You can download the piece (in the 1926 Breitkopf edition) for free from the IMSLP site.
Rouletabille100: Thank you a lot for the information, I didn't no this site (we are a little "silly" in France !) I got the score and I print it ! I have now to practice ! Thank you for your help. I wish you a happy new year. Sincerly.
Author: PSearPianist; Uploaded: Nov 7, 2009; Duration: 6:39; Views: 532
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