Les Preludes

Liszt composed "The Preludes" in January 1854, and conducted the first performance on February 23, 1854 at a Weimar Court Concert. The work was inspired by Lamartine's "Meditations Poetiques" and is based on the one beginning, "What is our life but a series of Preludes to that unknown song, the first solemn note of whis is sounded by Death?" These preludes are arranged for full orchestra.