Liszt Fantasy and Fugue on the theme BACH

[dnephi]

  
Incredible, isn't it?  Not only is it a piece for technical demonstration, it is powerful, impassioned, epic, and it seems more playable than some of Liszt's harder pieces.

The idea of an homage to Bach in both form and theme is great, but when I thought about bach it was, in my mind, a bad theme.  Upon hearing this, however, it was powerfully wrought. 

I highly recommend this piece to anyone who likes powerful, dramatic music, likes Bach, Liszt, or who just likes incredible music. 

Has anyone here actually learned it?  I'd like to hear your perspectives.

[thalbergmad]

It sounds better on the organ i feel.

The piece demands something more perhaps than the piano can provide.

Thal

[bach-liszt]

I am an organist.  I recently purchased a three manual Allen classical organ for my home (with a powerful 32' stop).  I have heard the piano recordings of this piece which are quite good.  I just recently finished learning this piece and, on the organ, it is a real tour de force.  It has real power.  My organ teacher called it "piano music on steroids!"   I can't wait to play it for my piano friends.

[jakev2.0]

I think this is an absolutely disgusting piece. it's full of awful, cliched figuration that typify Liszt at his most empty-headed. It simply doesn't go anywhere.  I know people that could improvise comparably to the piece.

To be honest, even the original fugue was terrible, which leads me to doubt that it was even written by Bach in the first place.

[mikey6]

This is actually one of the few pieces I've heard by Liszt I don't like.  12 minutes of 'FFF' get's a bit too much.  Although it's forward looking harmonic traits are interesting.

[dnephi]

I am an organist.  I recently purchased a three manual Allen classical organ for my home(with a powerful 32' stop).  I have heard the piano recordings of this piece which is quite good.  I just recently finished learning this piece and, on the organ, it is a real tour de force.  It has real power.  My organ teacher called it "piano music on steriods!"   I can't wait to play it for my piano friends.

That sounds amazing.  Is it difficult for someone who is just a pianist to play it on the organ?


Maybe you should give it another try :p. 

[mephisto]

I think this is an absolutely disgusting piece. it's full of awful, cliched figuration that typify Liszt at his most empty-headed. It simply doesn't go anywhere.  I know people that could improvise comparably to the piece.

To be honest, even the original fugue was terrible, which leads me to doubt that it was even written by Bach in the first place.

This is true if you take away the fact that is very powerfull, extremely inovative in termes of harmony and can move the sh*t out of just about everybody.

[bach-liszt]

 
That sounds amazing.  Is it difficult for someone who is just a pianist to play it on the organ?


---->  Although the piece has pianistic elements, a different touch is required on the organ.  Since I practice both piano and organ, I am required to employ a different technique concerning the  fingers, wrists and arms for each instrument. 

[donjuan]

It sounds better on the organ i feel.

The piece demands something more perhaps than the piano can provide.

Thal

I strongly agree.

On piano, the brightness of the tone gets to me and pisses me off.  Also, in the organ version, sections are connected much better.

Liszt was a genius at transcribing orchestral music onto the piano, but the organ is something truely unique, and this piece only works on this medium.

[dnephi]

I strongly agree.

On piano, the brightness of the tone gets to me and pisses me off.  Also, in the organ version, sections are connected much better.

Liszt was a genius at transcribing orchestral music onto the piano, but the organ is something truely unique, and this piece only works on this medium.

Do you feel the same about the Busoni transcription of Ad nos salutarem?

[donjuan]

Do you feel the same about the Busoni transcription of Ad nos salutarem?

I never heard it.  However, I know Busoni generally does better at transcribing organ music on to the piano than Liszt.  I think this is because of his huge hands and physical innovations that make the mighty organ sound come out better.

[donjuan]

Do you feel the same about the Busoni transcription of Ad nos salutarem?

I just heard it.  Just as I predicted, Busoni doesn't disappoint!

[bach-liszt]

I just heard it.  Just as I predicted, Busoni doesn't disappoint!

Be sure to catch Virgil Fox's mighty rendition of Ad Nos at the famous Aeolian-Skinner Organ in a live performance before a large crowd (including Van Cliburn).