Les Preludes Key Structure

Liszt: Les Preludes, Harmonic Structure Introduction  4/4

“Dawn of Existence”

 4/4 Theme A –  4/4 1-9 C major ending on A major! [Dominant of next key] 10-19 D minor going to A augmented but resolving to dominant harmony 20-21 A flat diminished 23-24 A natural diminished 25-26 B flat diminished 27-28 B natural diminished th 29-34 Dominant 7  and decorated around the Dominant Andante maestoso 12/8

Theme A –  A –  12/8  12/8 35-36 C major to F major 37-38 F major to B flat major 38-40 G major to C major 41-42 A flat, F major, C major [Very colourful progression!] 43-46 A flat, flat, F major, C major L’istesso tempo 9/8

47-53 Theme A in triple triple time, time, C major 48-62 Theme A moved into E major ending in A flat flat major 63-66 12/8 Modulatory passage: F minor, D flat major, G7, C minor, F minor, D flat major, G flat major, E flat minor, G# minor leading to E major for Theme B Theme B espressivo ma tranquillo

70-78 Horns present Theme B in E major ending in G# G# minor th 80-90 Woodwinds take over Theme B and extend it it ending in G# major + 7 th This chord serves as a German 6  into Ic in C major The above progression is used extensively in this work to produce key changes th 93 F# major with minor 9  resolving to nd 95 B flat major 2  inversion 99 C7 harmony resolving on to nd 100 E major 2 inversion introducing the horn with a preface of the „Battle‟ theme Allegro ma non troppo

109 119 125

“Storms of Life”

Beginning of a highly chromatic section th Diminished 7  chords are introduced in sequences th Diminished 7  chords in continuous quavers enhancing the drama

Allegro tempestoso

131 155 161 171 182 191 192 199

Three note fragments of Theme A leading to a highly dramatic section with rising sequences Torrent of descending chromatic scales Martial Theme from „Waves‟ is introduced in the brass Martial Theme is repeated in the strings The music relaxes and the three note „Motto‟ theme appears in the oboes in B flat The E flat chord then resolves into nd G major 2  inversion –  once again this almost magical key change is used nd C major chord resolves into 2  inversion of E major for the start of the next scene

Allegretto pastorale

200 236 244 260 280 296 316 334 343

Horn introduces this scene in A major followed by oboe and clarinet nd C#7 resolves into F major 2  inversion B7 leads back towards A major Theme B returns over an A pedal Theme B is reprised and more fully scored Theme B now in C major Theme B now with tutti orchestra at f  Climax is reached at fff ‟ nd Ab7 resolves into C major 2  inversion for the key of the next section

Allegro marziale animato

346 369 370 374 378 394 399

“Refuge and Consolation in Rural Life”

“Strife and Conflict – Battle”

The Battle Theme is introduced in the brass in C major B major resolves into C major in the next bar Theme B now transformed into a march in C major Theme B now in E flat –  crash key change Theme A now in F# major B flat second inversion harmonic outline G major dominant of C leading to the final section

Andante maestoso

405  ff statement of Theme A 411-2 Note the reprise of the harmonic sequence: A flat, F major, C major from bar 41-2