Compare 3 Liszt etudes

[franz_]

Which one is technically, the easiest and the hardest from:

Paganini 2
Paganini 6
TE 2

[danhuyle]

1. Paganini 6
2. Paganini 2 - Interlock of 6th is challenging
3. TE 2 - Tricky to internalize rhythm

[franz_]

You eally think PA 6 is easier than PA 2?
From own experience?

What about TE 11? or Waldesrauschen?

[pianoplayjl]

I'd say

PE 6
PE 2
TE2

TE 11 is the hardest if part of the list. Waldesrauchen, as I looked into syllabi, is around licentiate standard along with it's sibling Gnomenrigen. TE 2 and PE 2  are also around Licentiate standard.

[danhuyle]

You eally think PA 6 is easier than PA 2?
From own experience?

What about TE 11? or Waldesrauschen?

I haven't played any of the 5 Liszt concert etudes.

The technical difficulties I'm having with
- Paganini Etude No2 - the interlocking of 6th and then there's 2 bars where you have to cross over playing chromatic scales
- Paganini Etude No6 - one of the passages in variation 11.
- TE 2 - Clarity of rhythm

Just because it's technically difficult for me doesn't mean it's technically difficult for someone else.
I find Liszt TE6,7,8 to be the most technically difficult of the 12 TE. The musical side of it, I don't know because I'm not there yet.
I have played TE1,3,5,10,12. They all come down to your ability to interpret.

[franz_]

I'd say

PE 6
PE 2
TE2

TE 11 is the hardest if part of the list. Waldesrauchen, as I looked into syllabi, is around licentiate standard along with it's sibling Gnomenrigen. TE 2 and PE 2  are also around Licentiate standard.

You really think that TE 11 is harder than the other ones I mentioned? I'm surprised.
And you actually have books and syllabi telling you which ones are harder? 

[mjin1]

Ive not played the other 2 etudes, but just wanted to say. For what it's worth, PE 6 can be played at a variety of speeds with good musical results, and the speeds can vary for each variation, depending on how you want to set up your interpretation.

For instance, Andre Watts's recording of this is generally slower than that of Marc Andre Hamelin's, however, playing Variation 6 near Watts's speed is quite a technical feat, not to mention how fast he blazes through some of variation 11. However, these 2 variations are absolutely incredible sounding when played fast, as long as the other variations contrast it with a different character, in my opinion. Watts accomplishes this, as he plays the majority of the other variations very steadily and musically, with appropriate speed to each variations character.

Hamelin's recording is a little different, but the point is they both are exceptional musically, and enjoyable to listen to. Hamelin generally goes faster, however, variation 6 and 11 are a good deal slower than Watts' recording. It doesn't make a difference though because the piece allows for it to still sound incredible. And for what it's worth, Hamelin's recording makes a complete devil out of variation 4 and 5, playing them at that speed is quite technical.

So long story short, I would recommend PE6 for learning technique as I am doing now because you can get great technique benefit while having alot of options as far as how fast you feel you need to go to do justice to the character of the piece.