Au bord d'une source ("Beside a Spring") is a piano piece by Franz Liszt; it is the 4th piece of the first suite of Années de Pèlerinage ("Years of Pilgrimage").
There are three separate versions of Au bord d'une source. The first version appears in Liszt's set Album d'un voyageur (1834–1838), and the second in the first suite of Liszt's Années de pèlerinage (1836–1855). The last version is almost identical to the second, except for the final nine bars, which were added by Liszt as a coda for his Italian piano student Giovanni Sgambati, who was also a composer;Giovanni Sgambati at Encyclopædia Britannica this lengthened the piece by about 30 seconds. The coda was written in 1863.The complete music for solo piano, Vol. 43 – 2e Année de pèlerinage at Hyperion Records
The second version of Au bord d'une source is often regarded as the most popular. In the first version the technical difficulties are considerably higher to the pianist, whilst the last version adds a flashy coda.Coda for Au bord d'une source at archive.org[ Au Bord d'une Source at allmusic]
Analysis
The main theme of Au bord d’une source comprises a pattern of arpeggiated semiquavers in the right hand with short notes in the left, firstly played below the right hand and then played two octaves higher, above the right hand. This constant crossing over of hands places considerable technical demands on the amateur pianist.
Liszt links the various sections of the piece together using passages of intricate scale and arpeggio patterns ascending high into the upper register, descending back down and transforming back into the melody; this allows the whole piece to flow as one.
The piece has many intricate difficulties that are belied by the calm mood with which a successful performance is often imbued.IMSLP Score (pages 16 - 23)
Recordings
The following pianists have recorded the piece, among others:
{| class="wikitable" ! Pianist ! Duration ! Record label ! Recording Date ! Album |- |Vladimir Horowitz[ Vladimir Horowitz II at allmusic] |03:31 |Philips Records |1947 |Vladimir Horowitz II |- |Vladimir Horowitz |04:12 |RCA Victor Red Seal |1975 |Horowitz Rediscovered /Carnegie Hall Recital 1975 |- |Wilhelm KempffDecca LXT 2572 |04:03 |Decca |1950s |Franz Liszt: Années de pelèrinage / Deux Légendes |- |Sviatoslav Richter[ Sviatoslav Richter in the 1950s, Vol. 3 at allmusic] |03:07 |Parnassus |1958 |Sviatoslav Richter in the 1950s, Vol. 3 |- |Jorge Bolet[ Jorge Bolet II at allmusic] |03:59 |Philips Records |1983 |Jorge Bolet II |- |Claudio Arrau[ The Early Recordings at allmusic] |04:08 |Pearl |1928 |The Early Recordings |- |Eugen d'Albert[ The Pupils of Liszt at allmusic] |03:33 |Pearl |1916 |The Pupils of Liszt |- |Jenő JandóJandó - Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage, Vol. 1 |03:50 |Naxos Records |1991 |Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage I (Switzerland) |- |Leslie Howard[ Liszt: Deuxième Année de Pèlerinage - Italie/Venezia e Napoli at allmusic] |04:56 |Hyperion Records |1996 |Liszt: Deuxième Année de Pèlerinage - Italie/Venezia e Napoli |- |Tony MacAlpineMaster of Paradise |03:18 |Shrapnel Records |1999 |Master of Paradise |- |Lazar Berman |03:33 |Deutsche Grammophon (DG) |1977 |Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage
References
External links Album d'un Voyageur, S.156 Scores at the IMSLP. Années de Pèlerinage: 1ère Année: Suisse, S.160 Scores at the IMSLP. Au bord d'une source, coda to the third version Score at the Internet Archive [ Au bord d'une source] at Allmusic Au bord d'une source played by Vladimir Horowitz, from The Last Romantic (YouTube)