Both the term 'symphonic poem' and the form itself were invented by Franz Liszt, who in works such as 'Les Preludes' 1848,
after Alphonse de Lamartine's 'Meditations poetiques', used thematic concepts to depict programmatic scenes and emotions
in his orchestral works. This is also true of Byron's 'Tasso, lamento e trionfo' the subject matter of which was earthly
disappointments and divine triumph; something which was later to feature in Victor Hugo's 'Mazeppa', where even Mazeppa's
fall from his horse is described in orchestral terms.
1 Les Preludes, RIAS Sinfonie Orchester Berlin / Ferenc Fricsay, Berlin 1956
2 Tasso, Lamento e Trionfo, Prague Radio SO / Stanislav Macura, Prague, 14 December 1975
3 Mazeppa, Berlin Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan, Berlin, September 1960
4 Die Ideale, Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks / Rafael Kubelik, Live Bavarian Radio, May 9 1974 |
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