Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsodies

[invictus]

Ok, after using another several hundreds of papers from school, I have all 17 Hungarian Rhapsodies.

So i was curious, if anyone can rate them in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest?
And technical advice would also be appreciated
AND also put Tarantella(the hard one) by Liszt into the list too please

[brewtality]

There are 19 hungarian rhapsodies not 17. I don't play any so I can't really rank them, really you should read through them yourself and come to your own conclusion as each pianist has different strengths and weakness, e.g if you have lousy octaves the 6th would be hard, ditto for the 10th if you can't do gliss properly.

[invictus]

Lets assume that I am perfect in all technical, and i am right up to par for hungarian rhaps

I'd start with 11, or 6 or 5

[maxy]

5 is obviously not the most demanding mechanically.  If you are looking for an easy one, it's a good choice.  But let's be honest, generally we look at the HRs when in search of some flashy pieces.     

I thing the best advice that could be given is: pick one you like.  You mentioned 11 and 6, these can be good starting points. 

It's hard to rate the HRs by difficulty. The HRs are typically easy to learn, but challenging to play.  I would tend to say that #9 is very tricky compared to the rest.  10 is a great one and seems to be underplayed.

[stevie]

play no6, its quite easy to learn, and even just sight reading it, it was one of the most fun pieces ive ever tried!

it will improve your octaves too, because its quite addictive .

[I Love Xenakis]

I'd say that No. 2 is the hardest just because everyone is so completely familiar with it and any performance of it that is anything less than absolutely perfect is useless.  Every aspect of phrasing in every single measure could theoretically break the performance instantly if it were fucked up.


I always thought No. 12 was supposed to be the most difficult technically, but I don't really know much about a lot of them; that's just what I'm usually told.

[invictus]

HRs are easy?

Right now 5, 6, 11 seem to be my choice.

5 seems to be the easiest
6 seems very fun by the octave part
11 seems fun too, especially the last run to the end

What about the order that you learnt them in?

Yes, i am looking for a flashy piece

[countchocula]

6 is fun and easy to sight read -
but it's the hardest to get up to tempo and perform.
6 is the hardest.
- Count Chocula

[etudes]

6 is fun and easy to sight read -
but it's the hardest to get up to tempo and perform.
6 is the hardest.
- Count Chocula

if perform at cziffra speed ....yes it is
otherwise i think no.12 technically speaking is more difficult than no.2
i have one of my friend who play no.2 for 5 years but when she plays in concert she still messy it up(even she did all transcendental in concert)

[thaicheow]

Should check Martha Argerich's HR no. 6. In terms of technical prowess, and musciality, no body can beat her. And what a passionate playing.

Cziffer's playing is mere bravura, but never have much nice musical sense. Maybe I am wrong about him. Never heard him play chopin b4, but don't think I will be interested.