Most demonic Cziffra transcription?

[theodopolis]

My vote is for the Khachaturian Sabre Dance.

Thanks
Theodopolis

[Goldberg]

If you're referring to technique, it has to be the William Tell Overture transcription. Sabre Danse is tough (I played half of it, heh, and wisely gave up) but is still pretty standard when compared to the enormously awkward rhythms, runs, and fast chords. The first sections are extremely difficult, but the rondo is no joke either.

I think the next hardest transcription is probably the Blue Danube paraphrase, but then I guess that one isn't TOO hard after the introduction. The Bumblebee is one of his easiest (not like that really says much), but Valse Triste takes the cake for its logical pianism, even moreso than, say, the Tristch-Trastch Polka. La Danza is probably on the same level of Sabre Danse and..oh, Danse du Feu ain't so bad either.

I don't have a lot of experience with the pieces, but I do believe there are a few HD transcriptions that are more challenging than his 5th one, even if you mean his personalised transcription of the piece. What excellent works, though! Cziffra deserves a lot of credit for those.

Yeah and his Romanian Fantasy is insanely challenging too but then that's not a transcription. One of my favorites is the Overture Solenelle but, once again, it's his own piece. Have you heard it? It's tremendous, even though it was never completed (it was supposed to be an overture comprising national melodies of Hungary).

Heh, that's a summary of my opinions..