Unlike the first two volumes of the Années de pèlerinage, which are based on travel impressions from Switzerland and Italy, the third volume from Liszt’s late period, published in 1883, is more of a spiritual pilgrimage with reflections on fundamental religious questions. The fourth piece in this collection, Les Jeux d'eaux à la Villa d’Este, was composed in 1877 during Liszt’s sojourn at the Villa d’Este not far from Rome.

It distinguishes itself markedly in terms of style and character from...