Siegmunds Liebesgesang

Carl Tausig received his first musical education from his father – composer and student of Thalberg – Aloys Tausig. At the age of 14 he went to Weimar to study with Franz Liszt, with whom he soon became a favourite. After only two years, Liszt sent him to Richard Wagner in Zurich, with a letter of recommendation. He became one of his most loyal followers. As a successful pianist, Tausig also made a name for himself with his virtuoso piano arrangements. The arrangement of ‘Siegmunds Liebesgesang’ (Winter storms gave way to the blissful moon) from the Valkyrie was published by Schott as early as 1863 (plate number 17307), several years before the first performance of the opera. Tausig died in 1871 from typhoid, at the age of only 29. The epitaph on his gravestone was written by Wagner: ‘Ripe for Death’s harvest, / too early to pluck / the shyly sprouting fruits of life / in the fleeting bloom of spring-- / was it thy fate, was it thy bourn-- / thy fate and thy daring both we must mourn.’