Easiest Liszt Pieces?

[delpetrarca]

I saw the thread of Liszt's most difficult pieces. Can't stop wondering what people consider his easiest pieces? Tarantella in Annees de Pelerinage? Liebestraum?

I think sight-reading is the most difficult thing about Liszt's music. Any advices on how to improve sight-reading? (in general & for Liszt)

[lenny]

liszt's easiest pieces are actually all the ones youve never heard of, he composed LOADS AND LOADS of music, and that includes beginner little pieces.

now the question really should be, what are the easiest FAMOUS liszt pieces...

id say some of the consolations maybe

[SteinwayTony]

Tarantella in Annees de Pelerinage? Liebestraum?

If those are easy to you, then....

[steinwayguy]

If those are easy to you, then....

Agreed. The Liebestraum is far from easy.

[Skeptopotamus]

consolations are the easiest i think.

[delpetrarca]

Agreed. The Liebestraum is far from easy.

yeah, I admit Liebestraum is not as easy... My problems are thirds and sight reading (when there are a lot of sharps, and when the score just looked messy, the ones that make my face gradually kiss the score...), but Liebestraum is not as challenging in those two areas (only a very little bit of thirds), so it's not that hard I think...

but that Tarantella IS easy for me. It's just too LONGGGGg for a Tarantella! =D

Those are actually the only 2 pieces i can think of as easy. I've never played consolations... gotta check them out =)

Sight reading IS really killing me, for example, when I tried La Campanella, the double octaves I can handle just fine, but the sharps were just too hard to read... I almost feel like using a different kind of brain when reading sharps... same thing as in that Rhapsody No.2. I can play it now, and didn't feel technically challenged when I learned it, but it took me SO MUCH effort to read at first... I also tried Reminisceneces de Don Juan... I had to pound on the keys hard after went thru the score once in order to let out my frustration... can't read  i never tried it again... can't afford killing my brain cells and eyeballs...

[donjuan]

peace, my friend.  peace.

The fact of the matter is this - Liszt is really not that easy a composer, so unless you bring the skills to the table, you are in the wrong restaurant.

...im not sure if what I just said makes any sense (gimme a break, it's late here), but what I am trying to say is I dont think there is such a thing as an "easy" Liszt piece.  Some have their own individual technical issues that just take time and patience, but Liszt was a great pianist; he didnt compose anything impossible (In exception of his very early stretching - maturity works which do not appear to be made for human hands).. therefore all the pieces are of the same difficulty - that is, they are all "possible" to play.  I think it all just depends on how much time one piece takes compared to another.  I cant believe Im saying this - it must really really be late here..

The difficulty in all of Liszt usually lies in phrasing and interpretation. (esp in the later works).  If you want technically less challenging, but musically formidable works, have a look at liszt's late works (circa 1880) such as the Forgotten waltzes or Czardas Macabre. 

Dont attempt any of his mad virtuosic stuff from circa 1840 unless you are ready to practice and work like a dog to do the piece justice in the way it is intended.  These pieces are designed to bewilder the masses and charm ladies into the bedroom.  You dont do any of the above by cheating and simplifying.

By the way, I also played Tarantella.  I didnt find it too hard in terms of learning notes, but actually performing it in front of a crowd is really intimidating because my adrenaline, more often than not, boils over and I lose control.  For me, that is truly the difficulty in such a piece.  (I cannot say the same for Chopin, now..)

donjuan

[ravel]

nuages gris is one, and ofcourse the consolations are pretty easy.

[pianowelsh]

Agreed Ravel! But NO WAY is the Liszt Tarentella from annes even remotely easy it msuc be at least LRSM level and to give a decent performance  - its not easy! its like saying jeux de eau is 'easy'  - the third petraca no123 is much more straight forward technically and musically

[fred smalls]

consolations are the easiest i think.

That tarentella is definetly not "easy". I don't know if its a subtle way to show off (if you read my posts, i dislike braggers, sorry). I agree with Skeptopotamus that the Consolations are the easiest. Hmmmmm, i guess ive complained about braggers so much (sorry if you weren't trying to show off) i can't show any form of it myself, lol.

[delpetrarca]

The difficulty in all of Liszt usually lies in phrasing and interpretation. (esp in the later works).  If you want technically less challenging, but musically formidable works, have a look at liszt's late works (circa 1880) such as the Forgotten waltzes or Czardas Macabre. 


By the way, I also played Tarantella.  I didnt find it too hard in terms of learning notes, but actually performing it in front of a crowd is really intimidating because my adrenaline, more often than not, boils over and I lose control.  For me, that is truly the difficulty in such a piece.  (I cannot say the same for Chopin, now..)

donjuan

VEry well said. Agreed a lot. "phrasing" IS the hardest for most his pieces I think. All I said about easy/hard was from the pure technique side. Adrenaline boiling, losing control... hehe... I'm imagining someone on the edge of the bench, with smoke coming out of head. 

P.S. what i meant by "easy" is relative... I thought this topic is within the Liszt category 

[anda]

liszt's easy works? hmmm... are there any? 

anyway, my 1st contact with liszt: paganini etudes no.5 and gnomereigen etude. so i guess these would be my nominees (even though i don't consider these easy)

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4094.msg38101.html#msg38101
(Liszt easy pieces)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[pianoboi666]

Liszt and easy are two words that should never be in the same sentence, but as for his easiest pieces I'd say the B minor, or La Campanella lol jk.  probably Liebestraum

Dan

[jlh]

consolations are the easiest i think.

I agree.  Sometimes it's difficult for me to imagine Liszt composing something so simple.