My thoughts on studying Liszts B-Moll sonata part 1

[mila5405]

Its a very challenging work. Unfortunately im not so gifted that I can play through the whole piece an make music. No this sonata turns me into an underdog struggling with every page every measure. Liszt is very straightforward , no suppressed feelings like chopin, no drama behind the curtains its up and down like a rollercoaster.
Ive got the Edition Peters Edition
Page 1
No so technically demanding but hard to interprete the 7 first measures. Something evil lurking in the dark or walk over a graveyard. I know that Liszt read a lot of litteratur. Im not that familiar whith Goete, Schiller Hartmann Nietche so im thrust my instincts instead. Its like a good old Greece Drama with Good  Evil Love Passion Hate Backstabbing and comtemplative feelings . A fairly good mix to makew this sonata intresting.

Page 2
This page lays easy under the hand. I neccessary to no to reach the climax prematurely, so you really have to begin in piano with intensity.
The last 3 measures of the page calls for attention. Follow the pedalmarks, good balance between right an left hand, the big leap in the left hand between second last and last measure etc. Here the metronome is a good support!

Back with more if someone inrested!/mike

[liordavid]

I would give it a go. I cant tell that you have a deep understanding of the piece.

[fenz]

in my opinion, this piece contain a lot of dramatic scenes and feelings, from the mysterious one to the delicate and sweet, from the powerful, majestically, and anger to the calm and peace. when i played this piece i feel like an actor who played big drama. i have learned this piece from beginning till the end, but i learned it when i'm not ready for it. so i haven't play it whole piece from beginning till the end, but just played it in small parts. i want to learn it again when i'm ready for it 

i don't know its is true or not, please forgive me if i'm wrong.
this sonata is divided into 3 section: lento assai and allegro energico, andante sostenuto, and than back to allegro energico, presto, and prestissimo, lento. the second allegro is variation and development from the first allegro.

i struggled to interpret the first section of this sonata (lento assai and allegro energico), but i found it's more easily to interpret the third section (allegro energico). i suggest you to listen whole piece or maybe you can try to play the third section too to help you interpret the first section.

good luck and don't give up
i'm not so gifted too but i like to learn challenging pieces 

[tds]

in my opinion, this piece contain a lot of dramatic scenes and feelings, from the mysterious one to the delicate and sweet, from the powerful to the calm expressions. when i played this piece i feel like an actor who played big drama. i have learned this piece from beginning till the end, but i learned it when i'm not ready for it. so i haven't play it whole piece from beginning till the end, but just played it in small parts. i want to learn it again when i'm ready for it 

 

[lostinidlewonder]

Personally I find the length of the Sonata the most difficult aspect, the technical side to this sonata is not too much of a mountain to get over, it's just the marathon that takes it out of you and demands great focus. I'd be glad to discuss any passage of this amazing Sonata, talking about the entire piece would cause too much writing