TheDeux Légendes (French for 'Two Legends') are a pair of pieces for solo piano, (S.175 in the catalogue compiled byHumphrey Searle) byFranz Liszt, written in 1863.In 1863 Liszt made an orchestration of both legendes, S. 113 a/1 and S. 113 a/2.
St. François d'Assise: La Prédication aux oiseaux, S.175/1 is based on a story of St.Francis of Assisi. It is said that, one day, while Francis was travelling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to "wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds." The birds surrounded him, intrigued by the power of his voice, and not one of them flew away.[1] Thekey of the piece isA major, often associated by Liszt with religious sentiment.[2] The piece contains representations of birdsong, one of the few examples in Liszt's works ofonomatopaeia.[3]
St. François de Paule marchant sur les flots, S.175/2 is based on a legend ofSt. Francis of Paola, according to which he was refused passage by a boatman while trying to cross theStrait of Messina toSicily. He reportedly laid his cloak on the water, tied one end to his staff as a sail, and sailed across the strait with his companions following in the boat.[4] The piece was inspired by a picture owned by Liszt of St. Francis of Paola (who was Liszt'sname saint), drawn byEduard von Steinle. Liszt described it in a letter of 31 May 1860 toRichard Wagner: "On his outspread cloak he strides firmly, steadfastly, over the tumultuous waves - his left hand holding burning coals, his right hand giving the sign of blessing, His gaze is directed upwards, where the word 'Charitas', surrounded by anaureole, lights his way!"[5]
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