Difficulty of 3 of Liszt Transcendental Studies

[daniele1234]

Hello, everyone. I am 13 years old and have recently become absorbed into the world of Liszt, specially his transcendental studies (BTW there is a phenomenal Arrau Phillips 1977 recording of these which is GODLY). My most recent pieces (which I have played in concert or competition this year) are Chopin Scherzo no.3, Waldstein Sonata Beethoven and Chopin Etude op.25 no.9, op.25 no.4, op.25 no.5 and op10 no.12. I have been listening a lot to 3 specific transcendental studies which are no.6 Vision, no.7 Eroica, and no.10 in f minor ('Appassionata'). My question is, how would you rank those 3 in order of diffculty (1 is hardest, 3 is easiest) and do you think based on the pieces that I have played so far this year that I will be able to manage of them? Thank you and your response will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

[rubinsteinmad]

Hello, everyone. I am 13 years old and have recently become absorbed into the world of Liszt, specially his transcendental studies (BTW there is a phenomenal Arrau Phillips 1977 recording of these which is GODLY). My most recent pieces (which I have played in concert or competition this year) are Chopin Scherzo no.3, Waldstein Sonata Beethoven and Chopin Etude op.25 no.9, op.25 no.4, op.25 no.5 and op10 no.12. I have been listening a lot to 3 specific transcendental studies which are no.6 Vision, no.7 Eroica, and no.10 in f minor ('Appassionata'). My question is, how would you rank those 3 in order of diffculty (1 is hardest, 3 is easiest) and do you think based on the pieces that I have played so far this year that I will be able to manage of them? Thank you and your response will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

I am not that level yet but I'm assuming that they are all harder than any of the Chopin Etudes (Possibly excepting Op. 10 #2 and Op. 25 #6; If your brain is exceptionally slow, perhaps even the Winter Wind might be harder than Visions, but generally, I think Visions is harder.)

Disclaimer: I'm not the level of those Etudes, but I'm looking at the music, so.....

BTW Great decision! Not many piano players are able to appreciate the beauty of Liszt, simply because they themselves cannot handle it, and are jealous of those who can. But you are different! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

And I think you definitely can handle those Etudes, especially if you've done the Waldstein Sonata and the Scherzo 3.


Liszt <333333333333333333

[liszt1022]

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[ronde_des_sylphes]

Everyone's different, but having played 6 and 7, I found 6 quite easy. If you have good octaves 7 isn't too bad, but it's very easy to miss a couple of octaves here and there and for it to end up sounding like a total mess. Plus you may have fatigue issues. I've not played 10 but from the score it's harder than 6.

[abel2]

Generally, I'd put 10 as hardest, then 7, then 6. I've thought about the whole set at one point, and for me it would go.... (1: easiest, 12: hardest)
Preludio: 2
Molto Vivace: 9
Paysage: 1
Mazeppa: 10
Feux Follets: 12
Vision: 3
Eroica: 6
Wilde Jagd: 7
Ricordanza: 5
*air quote* Appassionita *air quote* ( I don't remember the tempo indication) 8
Harmonies du Soir: 4
Chasse-Neige: 11


And order of favorites....
Preludio: 6
Molto Vivace: 10
Paysage: 1
Mazeppa: 9
Feux Follets: 8
Vision: 5
Eroica: 4
Wilde Jagd: 11
Ricordanza: 3
Apassioniata: 7
Harmonies du Soir: 2
Chasse-Neige: 12

[rubinsteinmad]

Generally, I'd put 10 as hardest, then 7, then 6. I've thought about the whole set at one point, and for me it would go.... (1: easiest, 12: hardest)
Preludio: 2
Molto Vivace: 9
Paysage: 1
Mazeppa: 10
Feux Follets: 12
Vision: 3
Eroica: 6
Wilde Jagd: 7
Ricordanza: 5
*air quote* Appassionita *air quote* ( I don't remember the tempo indication) 8
Harmonies du Soir: 4
Chasse-Neige: 11


And order of favorites....
Preludio: 6
Molto Vivace: 10
Paysage: 1
Mazeppa: 9
Feux Follets: 8
Vision: 5
Eroica: 4
Wilde Jagd: 11
Ricordanza: 3
Apassioniata: 7
Harmonies du Soir: 2
Chasse-Neige: 12

Chasse neige is your least favorite?

[abel2]

Chasse neige is your least favorite?

Nu, Most favorite. I should have clarified. 12 is most favorite, 1 is least favorite.

[rubinsteinmad]

Nu, Most favorite. I should have clarified. 12 is most favorite, 1 is least favorite.

Oh, OK. Your taste is very sophisticated!

[visitor]

Once you get an idea if what the FL etudes are about and yiu sey learning them begin to take a look at the TE etudes if Lyapunov, they finish the cycle liszt started and the final of yhat det us dedicated to him, quite the fitting hommage actually

Ie

all 12

Sergéi M. Lyapunov (1859-1924)
12 Études d'exécution transcendante, Opus 11

1. Berceuse (3,31)
2. Rondes des Fantômes (3,02)
3. Carillon (6,05)
4. Térek (4,01)
5. Nuit d'Eté (7,22)
6. Tempête (4,29)
7. Idylle (4,36)
8. Chant Épique (8,31)
9. Harpes Éoliennes (6,18)
10. Lesghinka (7,03)
11. Rondo des Sylphes (3,58)
12. Elégie en Mémoire de François Liszt (11,17)

[abel2]

Oh, OK. Your taste is very sophisticated!

Mm, thanks. I've been studying Liszt for a while. He's my absolute favorite.

[abel2]

Once you get an idea if what the FL etudes are about and yiu sey learning them begin to take a look at the TE etudes if Lyapunov, they finish the cycle liszt started and the final of yhat det us dedicated to him, quite the fitting hommage actually

Ie

all 12

Sergéi M. Lyapunov (1859-1924)
12 Études d'exécution transcendante, Opus 11

1. Berceuse (3,31)
2. Rondes des Fantômes (3,02)
3. Carillon (6,05)
4. Térek (4,01)
5. Nuit d'Eté (7,22)
6. Tempête (4,29)
7. Idylle (4,36)
8. Chant Épique (8,31)
9. Harpes Éoliennes (6,18)
10. Lesghinka (7,03)
11. Rondo des Sylphes (3,58)
12. Elégie en Mémoire de François Liszt (11,17)

Mm, Lyapunov. I listened to most of those once, they're quite nice. I should listen to them more though. My favorite is number 10, it's pretty awesome.

[rubinsteinmad]

Once you get an idea if what the FL etudes are about and yiu sey learning them begin to take a look at the TE etudes if Lyapunov, they finish the cycle liszt started and the final of yhat det us dedicated to him, quite the fitting hommage actually

Ie

all 12

Sergéi M. Lyapunov (1859-1924)
12 Études d'exécution transcendante, Opus 11

1. Berceuse (3,31)
2. Rondes des Fantômes (3,02)
3. Carillon (6,05)
4. Térek (4,01)
5. Nuit d'Eté (7,22)
6. Tempête (4,29)
7. Idylle (4,36)
8. Chant Épique (8,31)
9. Harpes Éoliennes (6,18)
10. Lesghinka (7,03)
11. Rondo des Sylphes (3,58)
12. Elégie en Mémoire de François Liszt (11,17)

My favorite are Lesghinka and Rondo des Sylphes. BTW, I like Rondo des Sylphes more than Feux Follets. Feux Follets est si baise compared to Rondo des Sylphes. Rondo des Sylphes is much more beautiful and tonal.

[abel2]

My favorite are Lesghinka and Rondo des Sylphes. BTW, I like Rondo des Sylphes more than Feux Follets. Feux Follets est si baise compared to Rondo des Sylphes. Rondo des Sylphes is much more beautiful and tonal.

Hhm, I'll have to listen to it again.

[abel2]

My favorite are Lesghinka and Rondo des Sylphes. BTW, I like Rondo des Sylphes more than Feux Follets. Feux Follets est si baise compared to Rondo des Sylphes. Rondo des Sylphes is much more beautiful and tonal.

Can't say I like it more than Feux Follets. It's a little clattery for my taste.

[rubinsteinmad]

Can't say I like it more than Feux Follets. It's a little clattery for my taste.

Oh, OK. Feux-Follets is beautiful, too!

[abel2]

Oh, OK. Feux-Follets is beautiful, too!

Don't get me wrong, I like the piece. Something about the airy atmosphere of Feux Follets just gets me. When played right , that is, as so few can.

[handz]

Harmonies du Soir are by far my favorite of the set - it have such a beautiful themes and harmonies - one of my favorite piano pieces for sure. And then  I like the Mazeppa for its wildness and ravagery. 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Sergéi M. Lyapunov (1859-1924)
12 Études d'exécution transcendante, Opus 11

1. Berceuse (3,31)
2. Rondes des Fantômes (3,02)
3. Carillon (6,05)
4. Térek (4,01)
5. Nuit d'Eté (7,22)
6. Tempête (4,29)
7. Idylle (4,36)
8. Chant Épique (8,31)
9. Harpes Éoliennes (6,18)
10. Lesghinka (7,03)
11. Rondo des Sylphes (3,58)
12. Elégie en Mémoire de François Liszt (11,17)

YES! Fantastic studies. I've had a couple in my repertoire and am a bit disappointed at myself for not adding to that.

Ronde des sylphes is my nomination for hardest ever major key etude. It's horrendously difficult.

Generally, I'd put 10 as hardest, then 7, then 6. I've thought about the whole set at one point, and for me it would go.... (1: easiest, 12: hardest)
Preludio: 2
Molto Vivace: 9
Paysage: 1
Mazeppa: 10
Feux Follets: 12
Vision: 3
Eroica: 6
Wilde Jagd: 7
Ricordanza: 5
*air quote* Appassionita *air quote* ( I don't remember the tempo indication) 8
Harmonies du Soir: 4
Chasse-Neige: 11

Good list, that's pretty much how I would rank their comparative difficulty.

[visitor]

YES! Fantastic studies. I've had a couple in my repertoire and am a bit disappointed at myself for not adding to that.

Ronde des sylphes is my nomination for hardest ever major key etude. It's horrendously difficult.

Glad we share an affinity for them. I have a bucket list task to get on these, actually managed to purchase the  4 original publications of the etudes from an antique book dealer a couple years ago in pristine original condition, i want to learn them and write in them, but i also admire them as part of my collection so i don't want to really use them as study scores, but i ultimately decided, why not? it's like buying a really nice pair of shoes and never wearing them for fear of getting them dirty, sort of what they are for no?

I did catch the rondo de sylphes tie to your name, had meant to ask you if that is what it was about. I didn't try to eval it's difficulty other than in my mind they are all 9, 9+,10, or 10+ on a scale of 1-10+

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Yes, I took my username from that etude. I think the Liapunov set may be harder overall than the Liszt. In any case, I've thought they are great ever since I got hold of the Louis Kentner recording ages ago. Certainly a worthy companion set to the Liszt.