Franz Liszt was a frequent guest of the acting cardinal at the Villa d’Este, situated in Tivoli near Rome. His “Jeux d’eaux” describe the glittering fountains, part of the water features at the villa; in measure 144 Liszt also added a quotation from the Bible to the musical text about the “water of life”, thus giving the work a religious context.

Maurice Ravel, who was also inspired to write a composition “Jeux d’eau” (HN 841) thanks to Liszt, gave his work a markedly secular accompanying tex...