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Topic: Where would Scarbo place amongst transcendental etudes (S.139)  (Read 202 times)

Offline bach-busoni chaconne

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Where would Scarbo place amongst transcendental etudes (S.139)
on: November 26, 2025, 09:46:37 AM
Where would Ravel's Scarbo (from Gaspard de la nuit) place in terms of technical difficulty amongst Liszt's S.139 Transcendental Etudes?
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2026 Goal:
Bach-Busoni: Chaconne in D Minor, BWV 1004
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
Stravinsky: Trois Mouvements de "Pétrouchka" / Stravinsky-Agosti: Firebird

Offline liszt-and-the-galops

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Re: Where would Scarbo place amongst transcendental etudes (S.139)
Reply #1 on: November 26, 2025, 05:21:09 PM
Most difficult by a margin IMO, though Feux Follets is at least arguably on par with it.

Better question: where would it place in terms of quality among S. 139?
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Amateur pianist, beginning composer, creator of the Musical Madness tournament (2024-26).
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Offline bach-busoni chaconne

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Re: Where would Scarbo place amongst transcendental etudes (S.139)
Reply #2 on: November 26, 2025, 06:26:45 PM
Quote from: liszt-and-the-galops on November 26, 2025, 05:21:09 PM
where would it place in terms of quality among S. 139?

O that is an interesting question.

IMHO Scarbo is very well composed to achieve Ravel's intended characterisation, so definitely top 1-2. Chasse-neige also very effective in creating the sense of snow though.
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2026 Goal:
Bach-Busoni: Chaconne in D Minor, BWV 1004
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
Stravinsky: Trois Mouvements de "Pétrouchka" / Stravinsky-Agosti: Firebird

Online lelle

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Re: Where would Scarbo place amongst transcendental etudes (S.139)
Reply #3 on: Today at 02:38:02 PM
I think the transcendentals have some techniques that don't appear so much in scarbo, that may be harder for some pianists depending on your strengths. Gaspard is known as "Ravel trying to make the hardest piece" yada yada but I think part of the challenge is musical not just technical.
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