Sposalizio

Sposalizio is the title of the first piece in Franz Liszt's Deuxième Année de Pèlerinage: Italie (Second Year of Pilgrimage: Italy), published in 1858.

The composition starts out with a simple pentatonic melody, described as a "bell-like motif",[1] which transforms itself into a complex musical architecture.

The melody then transforms itself into a type of wedding march, which continually embellishes itself to lead up to the grand climax, which contains crashing octaves into a loud finish.

[3] Most of the works contained in the Italy series of Années de Pèlerinage have titles derived from works of art with a connection to Italy.

[4] Although the fast octaves can be somewhat challenging, the piece departs from the virtuosic fireworks that were trademarks of some of his earlier works.