Ranking the Liszt Transcendentals!

[billyfisher100]

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.
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? 

[abel2]

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.
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? 

You're overranking number one and underranking number four.

[rubinsteinmad]

You're overranking number one and underranking number four.

I agree

[abel2]

I agree

I knew you would xD

[pencilart3]

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)

[abel2]

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.

[santiagoguerrero]

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.

[abel2]

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.

[liszt1022]

This has come up a few times before. I refer you to some previous discussions.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=11292.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=3568.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=32896.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=38319.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=50278.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=55397.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=6266.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=44890.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=4415.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=2402.0
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=7060.0

[pencilart3]

@liszt it's obvious. Just go with it buddy.

[distantfieldrelative]

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

[abel2]

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.

[distantfieldrelative]

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.

[abel2]

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.

[billyfisher100]

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.

[abel2]

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.

[pencilart3]

In terms of favoritism for me it's

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

[abel2]

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

[pencilart3]

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

[pencilart3]

I uploaded this for your reference. Listen to #11

[abel2]

I uploaded this for your reference. Listen to #11

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

[rubinsteinmad]

Besides, I rank the melodic transcendentals last because if I want pretty liszt I'm not looking to the etudes.

lol  (Un Sospiro is very uplifting, though <33333 )

[abel2]

lol  (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.

[rubinsteinmad]

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  

[rubinsteinmad]

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

[abel2]

Me too....

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

I'll have to listen to it sometime xD

[abel2]

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. 

[pencilart3]

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.

[santiagoguerrero]

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.

[rubinsteinmad]

ya

[abel2]

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.

[countsilencer]

to be honest every single one is hard