Le tracce della forma sonata in Après une lecture du Dante di Franz Liszt
Abstract
The article delves into the enigmatic relationship between Liszt’s Après une lecture du Dante and the sonata form, offering new insights into its structural, harmonic, and interpretative dimensions. It proposes that the piece’s connection to sonata form is less about adherence to a classical model and more about a gradual evolution influenced by its improvisational genesis. The analysis focuses on the exposition, development, and recapitulation, revealing their unique roles in shaping the narrative. Firstly, the exposition introduces key motifs, such as the tritone, a rhythmic figure, and chromatic scalar passages, which recur throughout the work. These elements set a dramatic stage, aligning with Dante’s infernal imagery. Then, the development diverges, reinterpreting earlier material with increasing complexity and tonal shifts, reflecting Liszt’s Romantic aesthetic. Finally, the recapitulation eschews any predictable scheme, offering a gradual return of the secondary theme in a transformed major key, embodying the resolution of the Dantesque journey. The article concludes that the structural evolution of Après une lecture du Dante demonstrates Liszt’s innovative approach to sonata form. Instead of adhering to rigid conventions, Liszt integrates elements of sonata form within an improvisatory framework, reflecting both the compositional practices of the mid-19th century and his personal artistic trajectory. The reinterpretation of key motifs, the unconventional tonal plan, and the deliberate ambiguity in the structure of the finale collectively highlight Liszt’s intention to reshape formal boundaries. This work not only challenges traditional analytical paradigms but also exemplifies the Romantic ethos of blending structural innovation with emotive depth, cementing its place as a significant contribution to the evolution of sonata form in the 19th century.
