Liszt's Etudes

[pianojems]

Can any of you make a list of Liszt etudes from the easiest to learn to the hardest. Would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[donjuan]

Well, any list anyone draws up will be ultimately useless because YOU find things hard other people may not, and vice versa.  However, what I would do...

ok, well first let me think of all the etudes...

12 transcendental
12 Grande
Etude in 12 exercises
5 concert
Morceau De Salon- Etude de Perfectionnement
6 paganini

lets see.... are there any more?
well, I dont think so but I will post again if there are.

soooo... what I write here would take ME 7 years or more..
first, I would do the Etude in 12 Exercises to understand the way Liszt worked as a young person, and to understand the original ideas he had so you will understand the Grande etudes and Transcendental etudes.

Next, you may be sick of the melodies from the Etude in 12 exercises, so dont touch the Grande or Transcendental etudes YET.  

Have a look at Un sospiro to develop free arpeggios, but dont take it too seriously. -have fun, and keep your hands free.  

Next, something like la Chasse from the Paganini etudes, or the etude de perfectionnement would be fine to get lightness and brilliance.    

Now we have to work on even touch and sincerity, so maybe La leggierezza (aka chromatic concert etude), or Il Lemento, or Grande Etude No.3 or 9.

Now you are set to have a quick review of the Etude in 12 exercises you would have first played anywhere from 1 - 3 years ago, and have a go at the easier Grande etudes like No. 1,6,7

What you do from here is completely UP TO YOU.  However, I suggest you try the Grande etudes before the Transcendental etudes because the former are harder, and will make the Transcendental etudes all the more interesting and easy to go through.  I love how Liszt has 3 settings of the same pieces- you can really see how his style matured as he did.

The hardest etude of Liszt, in my opinion is a tie between Grande Etude No.4, No.5, and No.12.  If you dont have independent fingers, Concert etude "Waldesrauschen" can be a real bitch to work through..
Best Wishes,
donjuan

[chromatickler]

You forgot the 1835 version of the Paganinis. Version 2 of #4 from that set is probably the hardest of all of Liszt etudes.

[donjuan]

You forgot the 1835 version of the Paganinis. Version 2 of #4 from that set is probably the hardest of all of Liszt etudes.

I didnt know there was an 1835 version published.  Where did you get the sheetmusic?

[Goldberg]

Dover has a wonderful two-volume set of Liszt's complete etudes editted by Busoni for the Liszt Society. The second volume has both versions of the Paganini studies and the concert etudes as well. Definitely worth buying! Not expensive at all..

Also, Gnomenreigen would be a great piece to learn, so be sure not to overlook it. It's reasonably popular amongst pianists, I know, but it's not overdone like Campanella, and it's undeniably cool. Also, it would do a fair amount to increase confidence in fast runs.

[liszmaninopin]

Yeah, I've not actually played Gnomenreigen, but it's a fine piece (lots of fun).  One of my favorite recordings is the one by Rachmaninoff.  There's also one on the classicalarchives that I really like.

[donjuan]

Dover has a wonderful two-volume set of Liszt's complete etudes editted by Busoni for the Liszt Society. The second volume has both versions of the Paganini studies and the concert etudes as well. Definitely worth buying! Not expensive at all..

Also, Gnomenreigen would be a great piece to learn, so be sure not to overlook it. It's reasonably popular amongst pianists, I know, but it's not overdone like Campanella, and it's undeniably cool. Also, it would do a fair amount to increase confidence in fast runs.

yes, I know- I have Volume one.  However, all I have of the paganini and concert etudes is a craptacular Kalmus edition.  I do, however have Un sospiro in Alfred Edition.

donjuan

[liszmaninopin]

does anybody have a pdf for un sospiro?

[donjuan]

does anybody have a pdf for un sospiro?

I am guessing you havent seen this thread:

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=misc;action=display;num=1094515057

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