Transcendental ?

[thierry13]

What does transcendental means ? Why Liszt'z etude are called transcendental studies ? And when you say a pianist as a transcendental technique what does it mean??

[steinwayguy]

"transcendental" = "best"

[pseudopianist]

https://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=transcendental

[thierry13]

Thanks 

[Daevren]

Someone once explained me that he thinked Liszt might have meant that the etudes cannot be played slowed down(or with crappy technique). The musical effect is only created when you have the transcendental skill to execute them.

So the magical/supernatural effect is only created when they are played by someone with the proper technique.

But if this is what Liszt really meant, no idea.

I don't think he meant a plain 'best'. But that might be wishful thinking, arrogance is not a virtue.

[maxy]

The TEs sound much more difficult than they truly are.   In a way the "effect", the impact on the listener transcends the actual technical difficulty required by the pieces.  That is why he changed the 12 Grandes Études: to make them easier, more effective and more poetic. I find it's a fine deal!

It is not meant only for those with "transcendantal " skills.  The opposite of the TEs would be Chopin's op 10/2: extremely hard but sounds easy...

[thierry13]

I agry op.10 no.2 sounds easy, but I don't agree it isn't I don't find it particularly hard, I can't even make a DESCENT trill with 4-5, but it's becoming ok, and i don't find the op.10 no.2 so hard, so it's not so demanding...

[maxy]

sure...