January 6. Feast of the Epiphany. The Three Kings are here to make sure you’re taking down your Christmas decorations!

Part One (i.e. the Christmas portion) of Franz Liszt’s ambitious, three-hour oratorio “Christus” contains two purely orchestral movements, which together comprise roughly half an hour. The concluding “March of the Three Holy Kings” is a corker.

It’s interesting to note that one of the movement’s main themes is nearly identical to the motif for Valhalla, castle of the gods, from the Ring Cycle, composed by Liszt’s son-in-law, Richard Wagner. Which came first? Both “Christus” and “Das Rheingold” were written around the same time.

I imagine Liszt and Wagner showing up at the office holiday party wearing identical sweaters. AWK-ward!!

Three Kings

Valhalla

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