Wagner, Richard 1813 - 1883
Author: Okada, Akihiro
Last updated：February 1, 2009
Author: Okada, Akihiro
Richard Wagner: An Overview
Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig in 1813. He is known as the founder of 'music drama (Musikdrama)' and is renowned as a composer who skillfully expanded tonality through the clever use of chromaticism. The opening chord of Tristan und Isolde, known as the 'Tristan chord,' was extremely highlighted by Ernst Kurth and others, leading to a widespread misconception that it 'collapsed' tonality; however, this is incorrect. Wagner moved freely within functional harmony using chromaticism, and he unified his lengthy works (for example, the four-part Der Ring des Nibelungen requires four evenings for performance) through an extreme degree of motivic interconnectedness.
Early Training and Influences
Wagner spent his formative years as a composer in Leipzig. He studied composition under Theodor Weinlig, who was the Thomaskantor. The counterpoint training he received under Weinlig undoubtedly greatly influenced the later Wagner. Furthermore, his studies at the Thomasschule naturally led him to become familiar with the works of J.S. Bach.
Piano Works
Apart from the early compositions that were the result of this training, Wagner's piano works often have relationships with women as their background. Good examples include the Sonata for Mathilde Wesendonck's Album (M.W.) and Albumblatt for Princess Metternich.
Influence and Relationship with Franz Liszt
While Wagner's piano works may be insignificant in the history of keyboard music, the influence of his music on later historically significant composers, such as Debussy and other French Impressionist composers, and the Second Viennese School represented by Schoenberg, is immeasurable.
Furthermore, Franz Liszt, whom he met in Paris, not only became a lifelong companion, but it was also Liszt who aided Wagner when he was exiled for participating in the revolution in Dresden.
It is clear that Wagner and Liszt, who abandoned the path of a virtuoso pianist to become an innovative composer, shared many ideas and philosophies. However, Wagner himself seems to have had no interest in virtuosity, and no such tendency is evident in his piano works.
The composer, who died in Venice in 1883, was attended in his final moments by his second wife, Cosima, who was formerly Hans von Bülow's wife and Liszt's daughter.
Works(20)
Piano Solo (6)
sonata (3)
Eine Sonate für das Album von Frau M.W. WWV85
Key: As-Dur Composed in: 1853 Playing time: 12 min 50 sec
character pieces (4)
Klavierstück (sogenanntes Albumblatt für E. B. Kietz "Lied ohne Worte") WWV64
Key: E-Dur Composed in: 1840 Playing time: 2 min 00 sec
Ankunft bei den schwarzen Schwänen (Albumblatt) WWV95
Key: As-Dur Composed in: 1861 Playing time: 4 min 20 sec
Various works (2)
Piano Ensemble (2)
etc (3)
opera (3)