Liszt Liebestraum

[musickid10]

Has anyone played Liszt's Liebestraum No. 1? It's so underplayed, but it's gorgeous! I was wondering what others thought of it? Also, do you guys think it would be a good recital/performance piece, or is it not "flashy" enough? Thanks in advance!

[j_menz]

It makes a lovely recital piece if played well.

Be warned, though. Those trill/tremelo combinations in the RH are a right pain to get sounding good (and in the performance you posted they barely scrape in on that count).

[asiantraveller101]

Has anyone played Liszt's Liebestraum No. 1? It's so underplayed...

Are you sure about that?

[danthecomposer]

Liebestraum was written as the third of 3 'songs' based on poems by two authors and should represent 'mature love'.

I am infuriated when people play music 'because they can' rather than 'because they should'.  Note:  this is not a personal swipe at the topic starter or anybody in particular.

This piece can only be truly played when you have the real-life experience to perform it with the heart it was written with.  To have loved, lost, been loved, been rejected; to have memories of great love or to be living a wonderful love.

The title, as we all know, means 'love dream'; so play it as the title, and melodic structure, dictates.

When I play this piece, I want the listener to cry; I want them to feel every past partner's touch of their lips, the last goodbye but the new hello.  This song cannot be rushed or played mechanically or monotonously; it must vary completely in dynamics and speed.

I recommend you study the piece privately and let nobody hear you practice.  Look over old photos or emails, lay in bed and daydream of your first kiss, imagine how much you love perhaps your current partner or how much you would love a future partner.

Internalise the piece so incredibly well that you never, ever need to look at the score again.  Associate yourself with each phrase and chord progression and play the connection exactly as you feel it.

Good luck

[j_menz]

Liebestraum was written as the third of 3

Ahem.... wrong one. OP is discussing No 1. 

[danthecomposer]

Oops, not usually so oblivious.

Well, my point still stands about #3 and all I need do is slightly modify my wording for #1, Exalted Love.

Exalted means elevated, noble, etc.  I don't think it is necessary to modify my wording for #3 too much to bring it in line with #1.

Apologies however for my ill-placed obliviousness on this occasion.

[gyzzzmo]

To be honest, i think this piece is not underplayed.
It's ons of Liszt's worst works (again, to my opinion) with a cheap melody and even cheaper decoration. And this performer's pedalling doesnt make it exactly better either.
Liszt's no2 and 3 are on quite a higher level, but i suppose everybody has his own taste

[stoudemirestat]

To be honest, i think this piece is not underplayed.
It's ons of Liszt's worst works (again, to my opinion) with a cheap melody and even cheaper decoration. And this performer's pedalling doesnt make it exactly better either.
Liszt's no2 and 3 are on quite a higher level, but i suppose everybody has his own taste

I actually (somewhat) agree with this and Liszt is my favourite composer for the piano. I tend to like it a bit more than you seem to -I like the piece although I do have some qualms about it- but I don't consider it one of his more distinguished efforts in a piece of approx this length. I'm not too fond of the second either. They are among my least favourite of Liszt's transcriptions of his own songs. I much prefer some others like the third, the Petrarch Sonnets, Die Lorelei, Am Rhein im schönen Strome, Der du von dem Himmel bist, etc.

[gyzzzmo]

I actually (somewhat) agree with this and Liszt is my favourite composer for the piano. I tend to like it a bit more than you seem to -I like the piece although I do have some qualms about it- but I don't consider it one of his more distinguished efforts in a piece of approx this length. I'm not too fond of the second either. They are among my least favourite of Liszt's transcriptions of his own songs. I much prefer some others like the third, the Petrarch Sonnets, Die Lorelei, Am Rhein im schönen Strome, Der du von dem Himmel bist, etc.

I dont like the second one much either, but at least i find it technically better than the first. Thank god somebody (somewhat) agrees with this, some people have 'issues' with critisism on the more popular composers 

[musickid10]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!