The Variant Method of Composition in the Vocal Works by Franz Liszt

Abstract

"The article is devoted to a variant method of composing music, which became widespread in the composing practice of the twentieth century and has genetic links with the work of Franz Liszt. The variant method is presented as the basis of the composer’s artistic system, as a property of musical logic and form formation. During the functional and structural analysis of the songs of F. Liszt, their typological similarity is revealed, and a classification based on the variant principle of thematic development is proposed. The characteristic of variant-strophic (“An Edlitam” (S. 333; LW. 74)) and variant-phase (“Gebet” (S. 331; LW. №72)) forms is given. The relationship between monothematism and the variant method of composition is revealed. As a result, the genetic connection between the vocal miniature of F. Liszt and the musical art of the 20th century is substantiated. The variant method is presented as a system-forming method at all levels of musical and poetic composition (motif-composition-image-drama-way of thinking). Keywords: variant method, variant form, vocal creativity, composition, the principle of thematic development."