Adam Liszt
Encyclopedia
Ádám Liszt - (December 16, 1776August 28, 1827) was a Hungarian
musician and father of composer and pianist Franz Liszt
.
He was born in Nemesvölgy, Kingdom of Hungary
(now Edelstal
, Austria
) as the second child of György Liszt and Barbara Slezák. They lived in Marcz
, (Burgenland
, Kingdom of Hungary, today in Austria
), Nagymarton
(then called Mattersdorf, today in Austria) and also Malacka (now Malacky
, Slovakia
).
As a teenager, he played cello
in the House of Eszterházy summer orchestra under the direction of Joseph Haydn
. He was also an amateur pianist. After graduating the Catholic Gymnasium (high school) in Pressburg, Adam entered the Franciscan Order, but two years later, by his petition in 1797, was released from the order. Adam still kept close relationship to the order, which probably gave him the inspiration to name his son Franz.
An attempt by Adam to continue as a student of philosophy at the University of Pressburg ended due to financial reasons. He had to look for a job, and in 1798 became a clerk at the Esterhazy estate in Forchtenau (today's Forchtenstein
). After two years, Adam was transferred to Kapuvár
where he was missing the musical atmosphere at Kismarton (now Eisenstadt
, Austria). He started to compose music and dedicate it to the Prince in order to be transferred back to the Western part of Sopron
county. Only in 1805 did he finally succeed in getting a job at the court in Eisenstadt. The years in Eisenstadt were his happy years. In his spare time he played cello in the orchestra led by Johann Nepomuk Hummel
, the successor of Haydn, and had the opportunity to work with many musicians who came to Eisenstadt to perform, including Cherubini
and Beethoven
. This happy time ended when in 1809 Adam was transferred to the Esterházy estate of Raiding
as an overseer of the herd of about 50,000 sheep. Raiding, only 30 miles from Eisenstadt, was a rather provincial place.
While visiting his father in Mattersburg
in the summer of 1810, Adam met Anna Lager
who had recently moved from Vienna to Mattersburg. Their marriage took place in the parish of Unterfrauenhaid
on January 11, 1811.
The only child of the couple, Franz Liszt
, was born on October 22, 1811.
At his house in Raiding, Adam staged chamber concerts. While Franz was 5 and his musical genius revealed itself, Adam started to teach him music. Franz's parents stayed close to their son throughout his travels to Vienna
and Paris
.
Ádám died in Boulogne-sur-Mer
at the age of 50 when Franz was just 15 years old.
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
musician and father of composer and pianist Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
.
He was born in Nemesvölgy, Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
(now Edelstal
Edelstal
Edelstal is a township in the district of Neusiedl am See, in Burgenland, Austria, with 607 inhabitants.There was a 9th century Avar settlement on its borders, it is near the Roman fortress Carnuntum.The town was destroyed in 1529 and 1683 by the Turks....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) as the second child of György Liszt and Barbara Slezák. They lived in Marcz
Marz, Austria
Marz is a town in the district of Mattersburg in Burgenland in Austria....
, (Burgenland
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
, Kingdom of Hungary, today in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
), Nagymarton
Mattersburg
Mattersburg is a town in Burgenland, Austria. It is the administrative center of the District of Mattersburg and home to a Bundesliga football team, SV Mattersburg.- Location :...
(then called Mattersdorf, today in Austria) and also Malacka (now Malacky
Malacky
Malacky is a town and municipality in western Slovakia around 35 km north from capital Bratislava. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
).
As a teenager, he played cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
in the House of Eszterházy summer orchestra under the direction of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
. He was also an amateur pianist. After graduating the Catholic Gymnasium (high school) in Pressburg, Adam entered the Franciscan Order, but two years later, by his petition in 1797, was released from the order. Adam still kept close relationship to the order, which probably gave him the inspiration to name his son Franz.
An attempt by Adam to continue as a student of philosophy at the University of Pressburg ended due to financial reasons. He had to look for a job, and in 1798 became a clerk at the Esterhazy estate in Forchtenau (today's Forchtenstein
Forchtenstein
Forchtenstein is a town in the district of Mattersburg in Burgenland in Austria. It is the location of Forchtenstein Castle, one of the many palaces of the famous Esterházy family....
). After two years, Adam was transferred to Kapuvár
Kapuvár
Kapuvár is a small but ancient town of some 11,000 inhabitants in Győr-Moson-Sopron county, Hungary.The town is known for its thermal water which some believe has hydrotherapeutic properties. It is served by highway 85, and has a train station. It borders the Fertő-Hanság National Park,...
where he was missing the musical atmosphere at Kismarton (now Eisenstadt
Eisenstadt
- Politics :The current mayor of Eisenstadt is Andrea Fraunschiel ÖVP.The district council is composed as follows :* ÖVP: 17 seats* SPÖ: 8 seats* Austrian Green Party: 2 seats* FPÖ: 2 seats- Castles and palaces :...
, Austria). He started to compose music and dedicate it to the Prince in order to be transferred back to the Western part of Sopron
Sopron
In 1910 Sopron had 33,932 inhabitants . Religions: 64.1% Roman Catholic, 27.8% Lutheran, 6.6% Jewish, 1.2% Calvinist, 0.3% other. In 2001 the city had 56,125 inhabitants...
county. Only in 1805 did he finally succeed in getting a job at the court in Eisenstadt. The years in Eisenstadt were his happy years. In his spare time he played cello in the orchestra led by Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Johann Nepomuk Hummel or Jan Nepomuk Hummel was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era.- Life :...
, the successor of Haydn, and had the opportunity to work with many musicians who came to Eisenstadt to perform, including Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini was an Italian composer who spent most of his working life in France. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the greatest of his contemporaries....
and Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
. This happy time ended when in 1809 Adam was transferred to the Esterházy estate of Raiding
Raiding (Austria)
Raiding is a small Austrian market town in the District of Oberpullendorf, Burgenland. It is the birthplace of Franz Liszt.- Geography :The municipality lies on Raiding Creek in Middle Burgenland; Raiding is the only borough in the municipality.- History :...
as an overseer of the herd of about 50,000 sheep. Raiding, only 30 miles from Eisenstadt, was a rather provincial place.
While visiting his father in Mattersburg
Mattersburg
Mattersburg is a town in Burgenland, Austria. It is the administrative center of the District of Mattersburg and home to a Bundesliga football team, SV Mattersburg.- Location :...
in the summer of 1810, Adam met Anna Lager
Anna Liszt
Anna Liszt was the mother of Franz Liszt....
who had recently moved from Vienna to Mattersburg. Their marriage took place in the parish of Unterfrauenhaid
Unterfrauenhaid
Unterfrauenhaid is a town in the district of Oberpullendorf in Burgenland in Austria....
on January 11, 1811.
The only child of the couple, Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, was born on October 22, 1811.
At his house in Raiding, Adam staged chamber concerts. While Franz was 5 and his musical genius revealed itself, Adam started to teach him music. Franz's parents stayed close to their son throughout his travels to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Ádám died in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
at the age of 50 when Franz was just 15 years old.