Difficulty ranking of the Hungarian Rhapsodies

[musicsdarkangel]

I want to tackle one of these,
and I want to take one of the more challenging ones that I like.

I would say 6 is on the top, but other than that, what are their difficulties?

[rapmasterb]

No way - 2 is on top followed by 12 and then maybe 6 but i wouldn't be certain about that.

The thing about 2 is that there are so many ridiculosly hard cadenzas to choose from and even if you leave out the cadenza its still the hardest by a mile.

[brahmsian]

I think (generally) the earlier ones are more difficult, and the later ones are easier. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[g_s_223]

The late period ones are in the spare and terse manner typical of this period in Liszt's life. The middle period ones are quite taxing on octave technique, particularly in the RH, with quasi cimbalom effects. Great stuff!

[mikey6]

Ths only reason 6 is hard is if you can't manage the octaves, apart from that it's fairly do-able.  4 is less known with virtually the same amount.  14 has some fiendish difficulties, or 15 for all out fury! 9 might be a good choice. has a mixture of everything.

[maxy]

9 is hardest, I find

2,6, 12 are all very popular and very challenging.

15 is highly recommended to frustrated people 

10 is awesome and very hard and generally overlooked.

11,13 and 14 are quite enjoyable too.

18 has a great "catchy" theme, but what comes before is a bit... boring (IMO)

you may also want to look at the Spanish Rhapsody, there is some genius use of upper register in there.

Basically most of the HRs are interesting and challenging.

[apion]

If you can play #6 at Cziffra-like tempos, #6 is unbeatably treacherous.

[musicsdarkangel]

If you can play #6 at Cziffra-like tempos, #6 is unbeatably treacherous.

exactly.

[maxy]

yet #6 is one of the easiest to learn

Cziffra speed is not accessible to most humans.  Why take that as a consideration in difficulty ranking?

[stevie]

what if we include the 4 horowitz versions..

of 2, 13, 15, and 19

how do they stack up in difficulty?

[apion]

yet #6 is one of the easiest to learn

"Easy" to learn but difficult to master! 

[phil13]

what if we include the 4 horowitz versions..

of 2, 13, 15, and 19

how do they stack up in difficulty?

Not sure- never heard Horowitz play 15, but 13-19-2 in ascending difficulty.

Why haven't more pianists played No.19? It's my absolute favorite!

Phil

[rob47]

If you can play #6 at Cziffra-like tempos, #6 is unbeatably treacherous.

if you can play it at Cziffra's tempo it's far from treacherous.

i will second 9 being the hardest as I've said before but also the least musical of the entire set.

[tompilk]

I can almost play No. 15 (Horowitz version) and it is both very impressive and extremely eary compared to the No. 2.