Discovering Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite: A Family Tradition in Music for the Holiday Season (E44)
The Christmas Tree Suite (or Weihnachtsbaum) by Franz Liszt is a delightful, lesser-known suite of twelve pieces written for piano. Liszt composed it over several years, from around 1873 to 1876, intending it as a gift for his beloved granddaughter, Daniela von Bülow, as a way to celebrate the holiday spirit and family.
This suite is unique for its warm, gentle character, far from Liszt’s usual virtuosic style. Instead, it captures the serene and joyful atmosphere of Christmas. Many of the pieces within the suite are based on familiar Christmas carols or themes that evoke a festive ambiance, making it suitable for all ages and especially meaningful to families celebrating the season together.
Today we’ll listen to just a few of them, but I encourage you to take some to listen to the entire suite!
A Short Biography of Franz Liszt
Let’s start by meeting Franz Liszt. He was born in 1811 in Raiding, Hungary, a small village where his father worked as a musician, and passed away in 1886. Liszt’s talent for music showed up early—so early, in fact, that by the age of six, he was already playing the piano. By nine, he was performing concerts! Imagine a little boy sitting at a grand piano, amazing audiences with his skill and expression.
As Liszt grew older, he became one of the most famous musicians in Europe. People called him a piano virtuoso because he could play so fast and with such feeling that it seemed almost impossible. Crowds would scream, cheer, and even faint at his concerts—yes, faint! This phenomenon became so popular it was nicknamed “Lisztomania,” kind of like how we think of Beatlemania or fans at a Taylor Swift concert today.
But there was more to Liszt than his fame. He was also a composer who wrote music that stretched the limits of what the piano could do. And he was generous—he taught students for free and donated money to causes he cared about, like schools and hospitals. He believed music was a gift to share with others.
Here are some fun facts about Franz Liszt that I think you’ll enjoy:
- Liszt and the Piano Destroyer: Liszt played the piano with such passion and strength that he sometimes broke strings during performances. Sometimes, he played so intensely that he even wore out the piano itself!
- Liszt’s Travel Adventures: Liszt didn’t stay in one place for long. He traveled all over Europe giving concerts, sometimes performing as many as 300 concerts in a year!
- A Kind Teacher: Even though Liszt was famous, he never charged money for piano lessons. He wanted anyone with a love for music to have the chance to learn.
Psallite from the Christmas Tree Suite
This piece, based on an old Christmas carol, sets a calm, reverent tone that begins the suite with a sense of quiet celebration.
O Holy Night (O heilige Nacht) from the Christmas Tree Suite
This piece starts softly, almost like a prayer. Liszt uses dynamics—soft and loud sounds—to create a feeling of peace and awe.
The Shepherds at the Manger (Dir Hirten an der Krippe) from the Christmas Tree Suite
This movement paints a musical picture of shepherds arriving at the nativity scene, with a pastoral quality and simplicity that feel like a lullaby. This one has a calm, simple melody. Liszt uses a minor key to give it a reflective and peaceful feeling, as if we’re standing quietly by the manger on Christmas Eve.
Scherzoso from the Christmas Tree Suite
The name means “playful,” and you can hear it in the light, bouncy rhythm. It’s almost like a Christmas party in music form.
Here are some fun activities you can do with your family to bring Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite to life:
Draw the Music:
Listen to one piece from the suite, like Scherzoso or The Shepherds at the Manger. Ask your kids to draw what they imagine while listening. Is it a Christmas tree? A snowy scene?
Create Your Own Christmas Suite:
Imagine you’re writing a musical story about Christmas. What would you name your pieces? Maybe “Decorating the Tree” or “Snowball Fight!”
Guess the Mood:
Play a short melody and ask, “Does this sound like major or minor? Happy or sad?”
Make a Christmas Soundscape Creation:
After playing selections from the suite, have students create their own “Christmas soundscapes” using simple instruments or household items. They could try to recreate the gentle, ringing tones of In Excelsis Gloria or the calm lullaby feel of Stille Nacht. This helps them feel the music physically and interpret its festive mood.
Comparative Listening of Classic vs. Modern:
Compare Liszt’s interpretations of Christmas songs like O Holy Night to modern versions. Play a traditional vocal recording of O Holy Night alongside Liszt’s piano version, then discuss how each conveys the same theme differently. This could help students understand how music can adapt and change over time.
Dynamics:
Listen for how Liszt uses soft sounds (piano) and loud sounds (forte) to create emotions. For example, in O Holy Night, the soft beginning feels peaceful, while the louder parts feel joyful and triumphant. As you listen, ask your kids to raise their hands (or stand) when the music gets louder and lower them (or sit) when it gets softer.
Major vs Minor Tonality:
Major keys often sound happy, like sunshine on a bright morning. Minor keys, on the other hand, can feel sad, mysterious, or reflective. Listen to The Shepherds at the Manger and hear how the minor key makes it feel calm and thoughtful.
Conclusion of Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite music lesson
So why should we remember Franz Liszt? He wasn’t just a great musician; he was a pioneer who changed the way people thought about music. His generosity and creativity remind us that music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a way to connect with each other and make the world more beautiful.
Download the Franz Liszt Christmas Tree Suite printable pack (Free!) here:
See the YouTube Video: Experience the MAGIC of Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite
Listen to the Podcast Episode: Discovering Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite: A Family Tradition in Music for the Holiday Season
Listen here or subscribe and follow The Music in Our Homeschool Podcast through your favorite podcast app, such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
Read the Podcast Transcript here.
