Chopin Etudes vs Liszt Etudes

[stoudemirestat]

Just a light-hearted little question I was thinking of...Which etudes do you like better? Chopin's 27 etudes? (Op 10, Op 25, and Trois nouvelles), or Liszt's (only counting the final forms), 24(?) etudes? (Transcendental, Paganini, two sets of Concert etudes, and Ab Irato). Well?

Personally, I love both, but after thinking about it, to me it really isn't close. Liszt >>>>>>>>>>> Chopin IMO.

[rv]

Each have their own qualities but in the end I choose Chopin. And since you didn't provide argumentation neither will I.

[danhuyle]

My favorite Chopin Etudes Op10/8, Op25/11,12

In the end, I choose Liszt.

[stoudemirestat]

Each have their own qualities but in the end I choose Chopin. And since you didn't provide argumentation neither will I.

I simply like Liszt's better. To me, as great as they are, Chopin's etudes are much more one-dimensional. They only work on one aspect of technique each, and to me (Chopin certainly does get the most musical value possible out of that dimension) that really limits the result. Liszt on the other hand, in each etude focuses on multiple areas of technique, while still focusing on making pieces of musical value. This, to me, gives the Liszt etudes an added dimension that Chopin's cannot compete with. He had more material to work with, and he took advantage of it.

Liszt's etudes also tend to be much more substantial, while Chopin's tend to be in the 1-5 minute range, most at around 2-3, Liszt's go all the way from 1-10, most around the 5-6 minute range. To me they are more complete, more satisfying pieces of music. And frankly overall, to me, while Chopin's etudes are tremendous, Liszt's are just 'transcendental,' they are remarkable pieces of music that exploit everything the instrument has to offer in creating remarkable, beautiful pieces of music, that transcend what Chopin's have to offer.

Now I LOVE Op 10/3, 4, 9, 12, Op 25/11, 12 (and all of them really), but to me NONE of these compare to the sheer beauty, power, and passion of 'Un Sospiro,' 'Chasse-Neige,' 'Harmonies du soir,' TE 10, those especially, and more.

[keyboardkat]

My own teacher, the  late David Bradshaw, used to say that the Liszt etudes foster further development of you technique, while the Chopin etudes polish the technique you already have.

[scott13]

My own teacher, the  late David Bradshaw, used to say that the Liszt etudes foster further development of you technique, while the Chopin etudes polish the technique you already have.

Excellent quote. My thoughts exactly too. As much as I admire and love the Chopin Etudes, if one is wanting to develop ones technique further then Liszt's Etudes offer a greater return for time invested.

[stoudemirestat]

BTW I was asking what you like better as MUSIC, not as effectiveness in improving technique. But hey, why not answer both? So which ones do you think are better for technique AND which pieces of  music do you like better?

And yes, that quote does sound about right. I think, to put it simply, in terms of developing the technique, if we were to use brief steps, it would go 1. Things like scales, czerny, scarlatti, hanon, etc. 2. Chopin etudes 3. Liszt etudes...with other etudes like Rachmaninoffs, Debussy, Scriabin, etc on the side.

[pianoplayjl]

As music I somehow like Chopin etudes because they are shorter and contain more wonderful moments. the standouts are op10 no1,2,3,4,5,12 op 25 no1,2,4,9,,10,11,12.
As a technique improver, I'd say Liszt etudes because each etude focuses on a variety of technical challenges and at the same time produces an outstanding musical quality and effect.
Overall both, I'd say Liszt because his music is harder to produce musically and technically. I like TE 4 mazeppa.

[danhuyle]

My own teacher, the  late David Bradshaw, used to say that the Liszt etudes foster further development of you technique, while the Chopin etudes polish the technique you already have.

I never looked at Liszt etudes like that. I'm learning the 12 Transcendental Etudes and I can say that it's taught me a lot more piano than studying piano for 4 years at college. I never looked at it from the technical development perspective. All I knew was, I like the music, and I want to play it. So far I've played 1,3,5,9,10,12. Who would've thought that learning 12 Liszt TE could be rewarding on so many levels. That's way more valuable than an undergraduate degree in music.