Repertoire Suggestions - Liszt

[kc_gracie]

Hello everyone.

So, over the past year or two, I have learned a number of Beethoven, Bach, and Chopin pieces, and even played an all Chopin recital not that far back, so I'm looking to add a different dimension to my repertoire. Over the past 4-5 months, I have been slightly obsessed with the music of Liszt. I don't know if it is the romanticism or programmatic nature of many of his works, but I'm am just hugely drawn to his music at this point in time. As such, I have finished learning a couple of his works, Pensee des Morts and Vallee d'Obermann. These two pieces literally took my breath away while listening to them, especially in Pensee des Morts when you reach the Moonlight-esque half of the piece. In addition, I have played a number of his smaller works in the past, such as Consolations, Liebestraum No.3, and so forth. As such, I want to learn some additional interesting Liszt pieces, perhaps of the grand nature or that just has that factor that I find in those two pieces I mentioned.

With this long rant in mind, I would love to hear suggestions for Liszt pieces to add to those two I currently can play to expand my repertoire. I have considered pieces such as Les Cloches de Geneve or Ballade No.2, but wanted to hear what everyone had to say. I currently can play the 4 Chopin Ballades and the Beethoven Waldstein and Appassionata sonatas. I would be interested in hearing suggestions that could fit with these to strengthen my repertoire or possible supplement a few of these pieces to fit into a hypothetical recital program. I have no current intentions for a recital, but it would be nice to have that thinking in mind. I also am working on the Bach/Busoni Chaconne just to give some insight into the pieces I'm currently exploring.

Thanks everyone for any suggestions and I look forward to hearing from you. I also welcome any suggestions beyond these composers, but Liszt has my ear at this point in time.

-KC

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I'd suggest the Liebestod transcription and Harmonies du Soir from the Transcendental etudes.

[cuberdrift]

Great! Liszt is my favourite composer for the piano.

I'll just be putting in a handful of great works by his. Feel free to explore.

1. Scherzo und Marsch - Not commonly played, reputed to be devilishly difficult. However, its virtuosity equals its musical interest; one of the more "harsh" pieces of Liszt. Somebody made a "joke" on Youtube that it is Liszt's "13th Transcendental Etude".

2. Apparitions - A fantastic early work by Liszt, it might be one of his first "avant-garde" compositions written during his concert pianist years. Amidst his early bravura transcriptions this one emerges as an early sign of his genius. Comes in 3 parts.

3. "Beside a Spring" (6:17) & "At Lake Wallenstadt" (11:07) (Years of Pilgrimage) - Originally written during his travels with Marie d'Agoult, these highly programmatic works are two of Liszt's more "calm" pieces. Pure heaven to listen to. You might want to explore the other works as well in this collection: it's pure gold in my opinion.

4. 'Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este' - Relatively well-known but certainly not one of his most popular pieces. A little impressionist in style. It's said that this inspired Ravel's jeaux d'eaux. Depicts a fountain in Italy, but its deeper meaning alludes to Jesus as the "water of eternal life" from the Bible. Highly recommended.

 

5. Reminiscences de Lucrezia Borgia - A transcription/paraphrase. Super difficult but probably one of his greatest solo works overall. In terms of Liszt's opera paraphrases, this is the King of them all.

6. Dante Sonata - One of his most programmatic works, based on Dante's Inferno. If you're into the deepest parts of Liszt's psyche this could be a revelation.

There's so much more but that's all I can provide for now. Check out the Benedicion, Nuages gris, etc.

[kc_gracie]

These are great suggestions by both of you.

Harmonies du Soir is a beautiful and difficult piece I haven't thought about in quite some time. Definitely worth consideration. I think I've listened to it 10-15 times since your reply.

While the Scherzo and March is super unique and interesting, I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of it. Very devilish. I think I will leave this one for now.

The pieces from the first Annees de Pelerinage are some of my absolute favorites. Au bord d'une source is one of my favorites from the collection (along with Vallee d'Obermann and les Cloches de Geneve). I am very strongly considering learning a few of these pieces as a representation of the set. Perhaps 4 would be nice.

While the Dante sonata is amazing and I do want to learn this piece, I think I would like to have some more Liszt under my belt before tackling this. I've heard it is notoriously difficult. So perhaps some preparation would be nice before attempting this.

The last suggestion, Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude, is wonderful. I learned Pensee des Morts after strongly considering the Benediction. I would love to be able to play both of these wonderful pieces in succession.

Well, I think I have a better idea. I just need to decide what to choose. I like the idea of a few pieces from the first Annees together (Au bord d'une source, Vallee d'Obermann, Le mal du pays, Les cloches de Geneve) or perhaps toying around with the Ballade No.2 and Benediction. So much great music to consider.

Again, thanks for the suggestions thus far. I look forward to any other suggestions and any comments on the above mentioned pieces together.

Thanks guys.

-KC

[pencilart3]

[ttortaro]

I sugest the b minor sonata, it's hard but for me Liszt's climax. Isoldens Liebestod from "Tristan und Isolde" (Richard Wagner) transcription and Mephisto Waltz and Sonate quasi Fantasie are good choices too.

[hazab17]

[j_tour]

Not the OP, but that's a great suggestion.  Been just doing a bit of free reading myself, and I've not encountered this one yet.  Yeah, for me, anyway, that's a good call.  Lot of intricate hand-over-hand stuff that challenges me, working out fingerings and all that. 

edited to add How much influence do you think there was between Messiaen and Liszt at this point?  Probably like many people I've read through the organ and piano works of Messiaen and probably like many here I found it to be far beyond my grasp as a technician.  However, while the Liszt piece is certainly having a few challenges, at least for me, it is somewhat possible to play.  Not for me, but I can see how to do it.

[kc_gracie]

Very interesting suggestions by everyone. I especially have taken a liking to the Liebestod transcription and the second of the two legends (which sounds very exhausting). Also, the Apres lecture une du dante is absolutely amazing and I would love to learn this piece in time. Perhaps I can eventually learn these 3.

For now, especially with all of the quarantine and time to practice, I have been cleaning up the Liszt pieces I know (Vallee d'Obermann and Pensee des morts) and have begun working on Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude and I feel like these 3 pieces of together bring me much joy. I would love a 4th, I just need to not be picky and go for one. I really want it to be Dante, but I just hope I would be able to do it some amount of justice. All of these suggestions are phenomenal.

Anyways, thanks for all of the suggestions. For any other people that might be interested, I have also taken a liking to several other pieces, but was really looking for something different and grand. I have attached some links to a few pieces that I absolutely adore on top of those mentioned.

-KC

Sposalizio

Les cloches de Geneve

Aux Cypres de la villa d'este I

Funerailles

Ballade No.2

[pencilart3]

I uploaded that first video lmao @kc_gracie

[kc_gracie]

I uploaded that first video lmao @kc_gracie

That’s hilarious. I didn’t even think to check!

Sposalizio is such a great piece and Chamayou is such a great performer. When he reaches the climax of the piece, I literally get chills. I have listened to his recording of the complete Annees de Pelerinage on repeat for the past few months. Just amazing. Such a great body of work in three volumes.

-KC

[pencilart3]

I definitely agree!!

[chopins_piano]

Hello there, fellow aspiring Liszt admirer. I strongly recommend the Liszt Etudes, if you haven't heard of them before. Personally, I recommend the Appassionato/Transcendental Etude no 10 by Liszt, it's just so beautiful. This piece doesn't take too much effort to learn but sounds really complex, so it's useful in showing off to anyone. 

[kc_gracie]

I really like the idea of an etude, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly afraid of them, including No.10. I have considered No.11, just so beautiful, especially with those rolled chords.

As an update, I have several Liszt pieces down very well now, including Consolation No.3, Vallee d'Obermann, Pensee des Morts. I have learned Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude and memorized this piece. While the Benediction is not as good as it can be yet, I am very happy with it. It is certainly a bear of a piece. So long and I actually find sight reading this piece to be quite difficult, particularly the first 1/3 of the piece. However, once it fits under the hands, it becomes much more manageable and it is a true joy to play. Perhaps it is one of the most satisfying pieces I have ever been able to put together. Just so much emotion.

Because 3 of the pieces I know are so long, I'm actually going to venture into shorter works now. I am very interested in learning, potentially, a couple of Schubert transcriptions (Standchen or Auf dem Wasser zu Singen or der Muller und der Bach) or perhaps Au bord d'une source. Not sure yet.

I really want to try the second of the Legendes. I love the sound of water that the rising base runs give in that piece. However, this piece will take a lot of work, so perhaps a small rest is due (although not for long).

Anyways, thanks everyone for the great suggestions.

-KC

[pianolover91]

Great! Liszt is my favourite composer for the piano.

I'll just be putting in a handful of great works by his. Feel free to explore.

1. Scherzo und Marsch - Not commonly played, reputed to be devilishly difficult. However, its virtuosity equals its musical interest; one of the more "harsh" pieces of Liszt. Somebody made a "joke" on Youtube that it is Liszt's "13th Transcendental Etude".

2. Apparitions - A fantastic early work by Liszt, it might be one of his first "avant-garde" compositions written during his concert pianist years. Amidst his early bravura transcriptions this one emerges as an early sign of his genius. Comes in 3 parts.

3. "Beside a Spring" (6:17) & "At Lake Wallenstadt" (11:07) (Years of Pilgrimage) - Originally written during his travels with Marie d'Agoult, these highly programmatic works are two of Liszt's more "calm" pieces. Pure heaven to listen to. You might want to explore the other works as well in this collection: it's pure gold in my opinion.

4. 'Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este' - Relatively well-known but certainly not one of his most popular pieces. A little impressionist in style. It's said that this inspired Ravel's jeaux d'eaux. Depicts a fountain in Italy, but its deeper meaning alludes to Jesus as the "water of eternal life" from the Bible. Highly recommended.

 

5. Reminiscences de Lucrezia Borgia - A transcription/paraphrase. Super difficult but probably one of his greatest solo works overall. In terms of Liszt's opera paraphrases, this is the King of them all.

6. Dante Sonata - One of his most programmatic works, based on Dante's Inferno. If you're into the deepest parts of Liszt's psyche this could be a revelation.

There's so much more but that's all I can provide for now. Check out the Benedicion, Nuages gris, etc.

Thanks so much for the great recommendations!