they were played, although popular in the first three decades of the twentieth century, fell
into disuse from about 1930.
We are examining the historical legacy of recordings of Franz Liszt’s piano works played
by his disciples. We are concerned only with reproducing piano roll recordings and are
not here concerned with recordings on disc.
Liszt disciples
Anton Rubinstein (1829-1904) was a close friend and musical colleague of Liszt but was
not a pupil. They represented somewhat different musical traditions, although Liszt
greatly admired Anton Rubinstein’s playing of Liszt’s own works. Anton Rubinstein did
not survive into the recording era.
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was a close friend and musical colleague of Liszt but
was not a pupil. A number of his reproducing piano roll recordings of his own works are
in the collection of Denis Condon of Newtown, Sydney. He did not record any works by
Liszt
Vladimir de Pachmann (1848-1933) met Liszt several times but was not a pupil. Liszt
greatly admired his playing, especially of Chopin’s works. They heard each other play
Liszt’s piano works on several occasions. Pachmann’s 1906 Welte roll of Liszt’s La
Leggierezza (The Lightness) is in Denis Condon’s collection.
Xaver Scharwenka (1850-1924) met Liszt at fairly regular intervals during the 1870s and
1880s and often travelled down to Weimar to mix in Liszt’s circle. He attended Liszt’s
masterclasses at Weimar in 1884 but does not seem to have performed at them.
Scharwenka’s Welte roll of Liszt’s Ricordanza (Remembrance) is in Denis Condon’s
collection. He is sometimes described as a Liszt pupil.
Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) played for Liszt on 16 March 1873 when he was seven but
was never a pupil. He became a celebrated Liszt scholar and pianist and his playing of
Liszt’s works met with the approval of Liszt pupil Arthur Friedheim. Busoni’s rolls of
Liszt’s Gnömenreigen and Feux Follets are in Denis Condon’s collection.
CDs of Liszt disciples
The following are the details of a four CD set of historic reproducing piano recordings by
Liszt disciples of Liszt’s piano works. The CDs have been produced and it is intended to
issue them commercially.
CD 1
- ADAM-BENARD Eugénie: Liebestraum no. 2 3:50
- BAUER Harold: Waldesrauschen 2:59
- BILOTTI Anton: St Francis of Paola 7:52
- BLUMEN Alfred: Mazeppa 6:33