Mazeppa (symphonic poem)

Mazeppa, Symphonic Poem No. 6 is a work for orchestra by Franz Liszt. It goes back to a poem by Victor Hugo and processed musical material from Liszt earlier, fourth Etude d' exécution transcendante. The work was created in 1850 in Liszt's time as Kapellmeister in Weimar and was first performed on 16 April 1854. The performance lasts approximately 16 minutes.

The program tells the story of Ivan Mazepa, briefly referred to as Mazeppa. Because the former Page was convicted of a relationship with a tycoon 's wife, he is tied back to back on a horse that is racing across the steppe; thus he should die of exhaustion and fatigue. After a few days the horse dies, and also Mazeppa faces near death when he has a vision of the winning Cossack people. In fact, he is soon discovered by Cossacks, who take him to Ukraine. According to the expressive and soundcolouring musical arrangement is not consistently marked by the ferocity of the ride, which can be heard at the beginning but also has a slow, contemplative and visionary midsection. Towards the end you will hear a fanfare initiated by Cossacks march, which symbolizes the salvation of the army and the glorious end.