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Topic: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!  (Read 20929 times)

Offline billyfisher100

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Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
on: January 11, 2016, 06:23:44 PM
In my opinion (most challenging to least challenging):

In terms of technical difficulty:

Feux-Follets (Nr. 5) (by quite a long way - those thirds are killer at that tempo!)
Chasse-neige (Nr. 12)
Allegro agitato molto (Nr. 10)
Wilde Jagd (Nr. 8)
Vision (Nr. 6)
Mazeppa (Nr. 4)
Molto Vivace (Nr. 2)
Preludio (Nr. 1)
Eroica (Nr. 7)
Ricordanza (Nr. 9)
Harmonies du soir (No. 11)
Paysage (Nr. 3)

I play all barring Feux Follets, Paysage and Ricordanza, so am viewing these in terms of looking through the scores!

Anyone agree/disagree/care to debate?  ;D
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #1 on: January 11, 2016, 07:14:23 PM
Quote from: billyfisher100 on January 11, 2016, 06:23:44 PM
In my opinion (most challenging to least challenging):

In terms of technical difficulty:

Feux-Follets (Nr. 5) (by quite a long way - those thirds are killer at that tempo!)
Chasse-neige (Nr. 12)
Allegro agitato molto (Nr. 10)
Wilde Jagd (Nr. 8)
Vision (Nr. 6)
Mazeppa (Nr. 4)
Molto Vivace (Nr. 2)
Preludio (Nr. 1)
Eroica (Nr. 7)
Ricordanza (Nr. 9)
Harmonies du soir (No. 11)
Paysage (Nr. 3)

I play all barring Feux Follets, Paysage and Ricordanza, so am viewing these in terms of looking through the scores!

Anyone agree/disagree/care to debate?  ;D
You're overranking number one and underranking number four.
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Offline rubinsteinmad

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #2 on: January 12, 2016, 01:55:33 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 11, 2016, 07:14:23 PM
You're overranking number one and underranking number four.
I agree
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #3 on: January 12, 2016, 01:59:22 AM
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Offline pencilart3

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #4 on: January 12, 2016, 02:54:07 AM
I haven't played any of them but I love them all and would like to take a crack at #8. I think these are the groups. They can be re-arranged within the brackets.

[5, 4, 12] (Feux Follets, Mazeppa, Chasse Neige)
[10, 8] (Allegro Agitato Molto & Wilde Jagd)
[7, 6, 11, 9] (Eroica, Vision, Harmonies du Soir, Ricordanza)
[2, 1, 3] (Molto Vivace, Preludio, Paysage)

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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #5 on: January 12, 2016, 03:01:57 AM
Quote from: pencilart3 on January 12, 2016, 02:54:07 AM
I haven't played any of them but I love them all and would like to take a crack at #8. I think these are the groups. They can be re-arranged within the brackets.

[5, 4, 12] (Feux Follets, Mazeppa, Chasse Neige)
[10, 8] (Allegro Agitato Molto & Wilde Jagd)
[7, 6, 11, 9] (Eroica, Vision, Harmonies du Soir, Ricordanza)
[2, 1, 3] (Molto Vivace, Preludio, Paysage)


I put 2 on par with either of the middle two brackets.
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Offline santiagoguerrero

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #6 on: January 12, 2016, 06:50:02 AM
Not that I have played any of them,but by reading them I'd say that No.2 is harder than Wilde Jagd.
I wouldn't rank Paysage too low,it has huge chords.
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Morunful and yet grand is the destiny of the artist.
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #7 on: January 12, 2016, 02:25:00 PM
Quote from: santiagoguerrero on January 12, 2016, 06:50:02 AM
Not that I have played any of them,but by reading them I'd say that No.2 is harder than Wilde Jagd.
I wouldn't rank Paysage too low,it has huge chords.
Paysage is the easiest, by far.
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Offline liszt1022

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #8 on: January 12, 2016, 03:42:04 PM
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Offline pencilart3

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #9 on: January 12, 2016, 04:31:42 PM
@liszt it's obvious. Just go with it buddy.
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Offline distantfieldrelative

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #10 on: January 13, 2016, 01:40:36 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 12, 2016, 02:25:00 PM
Paysage is the easiest, by far.

I wouldn't say it is the easiest. Getting is to sound legato without using the pedal to shove you along is terribly difficult
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #11 on: January 13, 2016, 01:57:37 AM
Quote from: distantfieldrelative on January 13, 2016, 01:40:36 AM
I wouldn't say it is the easiest. Getting is to sound legato without using the pedal to shove you along is terribly difficult

But which one would be easier than Paysage? The only other option is Preludio, and that's not very realistic, especially since Paysage has insignificant technical demands compared to the other transcendentals.
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Offline distantfieldrelative

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #12 on: January 13, 2016, 02:04:28 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 13, 2016, 01:57:37 AM
But which one would be easier than Paysage? The only other option is Preludio, and that's not very realistic, especially since Paysage has insignificant technical demands compared to the other transcendentals.

I think the prelude is the easyiest of the set. It isn't very long and it's pretty much not so fancy finger work that can be played fast and loud. In my opinion.
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #13 on: January 13, 2016, 02:38:55 AM
Quote from: distantfieldrelative on January 13, 2016, 02:04:28 AM
I think the prelude is the easyiest of the set. It isn't very long and it's pretty much not so fancy finger work that can be played fast and loud. In my opinion.
Eh. To each their own. Preludio is harder for me.
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Offline billyfisher100

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #14 on: January 13, 2016, 08:57:19 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 11, 2016, 07:14:23 PM
You're overranking number one and underranking number four.

For me, Mazeppa isn't particularly difficult. Once you have memorised the octaves and got to grips the LH RH LH/LH RH thirds, it's not as tricky as Allegro agitato molto.

Although preludio is very short, it does have some significant technical demands.
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #15 on: January 13, 2016, 02:20:10 PM
Quote from: billyfisher100 on January 13, 2016, 08:57:19 AM
For me, Mazeppa isn't particularly difficult. Once you have memorised the octaves and got to grips the LH RH LH/LH RH thirds, it's not as tricky as Allegro agitato molto.

Although preludio is very short, it does have some significant technical demands.
I'd put it as 5, 12, 4, 2, 10, 8, 7, 9, 6, 11, 1, 3. But that's just me.
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Offline pencilart3

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #16 on: January 14, 2016, 03:50:33 AM
In terms of favoritism for me it's

[12 & 8]
[4, 11 & 10]
[1, 9 & 5]
[3 & 7]
[2 & 6]
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #17 on: January 14, 2016, 03:10:33 PM
Quote from: pencilart3 on January 14, 2016, 03:50:33 AM
In terms of favoritism for me it's

[12 & 8]
[4, 11 & 10]
[1, 9 & 5]
[3 & 7]
[2 & 6]

Favorites for me would go 12, 10, 5, 2, 4, 8, 6, 1, 7, 3, 9, 11
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Offline pencilart3

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #18 on: January 14, 2016, 03:53:42 PM
Quote from: abel2 on January 14, 2016, 03:10:33 PM
Favorites for me would go 12, 10, 5, 2, 4, 8, 6, 1, 7, 3, 9, 11

Night harmonies your least favorite?! Yo crazy man.

Perhaps you just haven't heard Vadym Kholodenko play it ;D
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Offline pencilart3

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #19 on: January 14, 2016, 11:36:52 PM
I uploaded this for your reference. Listen to #11

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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #20 on: January 15, 2016, 12:14:37 AM
Quote from: pencilart3 on January 14, 2016, 11:36:52 PM
I uploaded this for your reference. Listen to #11


I can't, sorry :P No youtube at home. Besides, I rank the melodic transcendentals last because if I want pretty liszt I'm not looking to the etudes.
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Offline rubinsteinmad

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #21 on: January 15, 2016, 01:34:44 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 15, 2016, 12:14:37 AM
Besides, I rank the melodic transcendentals last because if I want pretty liszt I'm not looking to the etudes.

lol  ;D (Un Sospiro is very uplifting, though <33333 )
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #22 on: January 15, 2016, 01:36:00 AM
Quote from: rubinsteinmad on January 15, 2016, 01:34:44 AM
lol  ;D (Un Sospiro is very uplifting, though <33333 )
True; it takes a truly great performance to move me however, I've heard too many dreadfully mediocre ones.
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Offline rubinsteinmad

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #23 on: January 15, 2016, 01:38:33 AM
My favorites are
[8, 10, 12]
[11, 4, 5, 6, 9]
[1, 2, 3, 7]

I like certain melodies in the interiors of the Mazeppa and the Harmonies du Soir, but the beginnings are not as appealing to me  :-[
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Offline rubinsteinmad

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #24 on: January 15, 2016, 01:39:20 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 15, 2016, 01:36:00 AM
True; it takes a truly great performance to move me however, I've heard too many dreadfully mediocre ones.
Me too....

ARRAU IS THE BOMB AT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3333333333
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #25 on: January 15, 2016, 01:41:44 AM
Quote from: rubinsteinmad on January 15, 2016, 01:39:20 AM
Me too....

ARRAU IS THE BOMB AT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3333333333
I'll have to listen to it sometime xD
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #26 on: January 15, 2016, 01:42:41 AM
Quote from: rubinsteinmad on January 15, 2016, 01:38:33 AM
My favorites are
[8, 10, 12]
[11, 4, 5, 6, 9]
[1, 2, 3, 7]

I like certain melodies in the interiors of the Mazeppa and the Harmonies du Soir, but the beginnings are not as appealing to me  :-[
I do love the middle section of the Mazeppa, especially the S. 137 version. 
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Offline pencilart3

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #27 on: January 15, 2016, 02:33:22 AM
I like the beginning of Mazeppa so much better than the middle part. And there is no problem with having beautiful etudes. Just ask freddy. ;)
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Offline santiagoguerrero

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #28 on: January 15, 2016, 02:44:45 AM
Quote from: abel2 on January 15, 2016, 01:42:41 AM
I do love the middle section of the Mazeppa, especially the S. 137 version. 
Listen to the S138 version,between douze grandes etudes and the transcendentals,it's just the 4 etude but has the opening chords and a magnificent ending.
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Morunful and yet grand is the destiny of the artist.
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Offline rubinsteinmad

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #29 on: January 15, 2016, 02:59:15 AM
ya
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Offline abel2

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #30 on: January 15, 2016, 02:15:14 PM
Quote from: pencilart3 on January 15, 2016, 02:33:22 AM
I like the beginning of Mazeppa so much better than the middle part. And there is no problem with having beautiful etudes. Just ask freddy. ;)
Nothing against beautiful etudes, it's just that liszt has so many more beautiful pieces.
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Offline countsilencer

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Re: Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!
Reply #31 on: September 07, 2023, 10:21:21 AM
to be honest every single one is hard
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