Ten Epic Moments in Liszt's Piano Music
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- Liszt Ferenc is indubitably the world's favourite for virtuosic piano music. As well as all of his other innovations in music, which were grossly understated in the music world, he revolutionised the modern piano technique producing sounds hitherto unknown towards the contemporary audience. This video is a handful of my favourite moments of utter beauty and virtuosity from Liszt, including, but not limited to, his famous codas of immense power and speed.
Before the main list, which is in no particular order, I would first like to highlight some honourable mentions:
Sonate, S178 (Despite the fact that this extremely well-known work includes very many epic moments, I took this piece as a donnée in order for perhaps lesser-known works to make the list.)
Réminiscences de Norma de Bellini, S394 (The epic moments in this piece are strokes of pure genius from Liszt, but I opted to include the sixth piece in the list of similar calibre, and thought including this would also create a surface-level introduction to Liszt.
Rapsodie hongroise 12, S244/12 (Again, very awesome like most of the HR codas but too famous to fit in.)
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen - Präludium (nach J. S. Bach), S179 (I am extremely fond of the busy moment in this transcendent and underplayed work.)
0:00 - Introduction
0:07 - Deuxième Ballade, S171 (Goerner)
There are many assertions, particularly from Claudio Arrau, that this piece is based on the myth of Hero and Leander. True or not, the turbulence and tempest of storm is very clear in this music. This epic moment utilises chords without a third (if you may permit me to borrow the term "power chords"!) that climb the keyboard.
0:53 - O wenn es doch immer so bliebe!, S554/1 (Dossin)
Anton Rubinstein, maintained as one of the most underrated composers of the Romantic era, wrote this lied, which Liszt transcribed for the piano. No matter how sweet the original song may be, Liszt's genius shines forth in the sheer wonder of the quasi-harp cadenza and the climax that follows.
1:52 - Etude d’exécution transcendante No 10, S139/10 (Ovchinnikov)
The tension created in this passage is goosebump-inducing every time. The repeated D-flat octaves form an inverted pedal as the bass line descends to land firmly in F minor, where the D-flat reveals itself to be a 6-5 suspension. Juicy!
2:39 - Mosonyi Mihály from Historische ungarische Bildnisse - Magyar történelmi arcképek, S205/7 (Jando)
It is necessary to listen to this piece in its total context, that is, the whole work preceded by the six other "Hungarian historical portraits". This excerpt will then make better sense, if you do not already deem it epic from this video. Although it appears to be a work of Liszt's very last years, the same music appears in the earlier version Mosonyis Grabgeleit’, S194 from 1870.
3:34 - Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, S173/4 (Hough)
Utterly religious and heart wrenching.
4:50 - Erster Mephisto-Walzer - Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke, S514 (Laplante)
This piece features unbridled devilishness and virtuosity, and produces an enormous sound.
6:12 - Après une lecture du Dante - Fantasia quasi sonata, S158c (Filipec)
The version directly preceding the published version, which features a suitably devilish passage in the coda he scrubbed out for its outrageous difficulty.
7:49 - Réminiscences de Lucrezia Borgia 1re partie: Trio du second’ acte, S400/1 (Wolfram)
This is a lucky piece that Liszt gifted with two codas, not just one! Although Liszt intended this fantasy to be in one single unit, his publishers split it into two parts. The coda of the second part is very effective at summarising the main themes of the opera, but the first is so obstreperous and forceful that it becomes some of the loudest music Liszt ever penned.
9:19 - Zwei Orchestersätze aus dem Oratorium Christus No 2: Die heiligen drei Könige ‒ Marsch, S498b/2 (Kramer)
Liszt's oratorio Christus is his greatest musical contribution to the world. Due to the fact he is widely recognised as the greatest pianist who ever lived, his best composition being an orchestral and choral oratorio may be hard to believe, but it is very true. This piano version of an orchestral movement from the oratorio is tantamount to Liszt's skill of transcription, and its coda shown here is one of his finest.
11:00 - Grande Fantaisie sur des thèmes de Paganini - La clochette et Le carnaval de Venise, S700a/i (Kim Minkyu)
When I saw this performance live, I was dumbstruck at what could be the most effective coda Liszt wrote. What a pity that this work was left unpublished!
Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments, and subscribe for more Liszt nerd content :)
Great selection and very well edited! 🤩
Thank you Shutian!
They're so good! Liszt's so good! Liszt is a such versatile composer. He's good at creating majestic atmosphere, while he is also capable of making nostalgic memories. I can hear all kinds of emotions in his music. Personality, my favorite is benediction and mephisto. The former one is so warm, and the latter one is so seductive, which is unique. Thank you for putting them together. Favorite composer forever!
🥰
All compositions of Liszt was epic! :)
Indeed :)
Practising the bit at 5:31 is the true definition of frustration; takes absolutely ages to even get close to acceptable
Took me 2 hours
@@duqueadriano0081 you're too talented for us mere mortals ;-;
Proof that Liszt was the best pianist and composer of all time. They way he could transcribe and compose the most sublime nostalgic music and also the most diabolical sounds ever produced on the piano is unbelievable and unmatched.
one of the best*
@Robert Kowalski having a wide range doesn't automatically make you the best composer...
@Robert Kowalski Your opinion is subjective, you cannot impose it on another's, but you can argue in your favor.
@Robert Kowalski Verbally attacking me just shows that you didn't have a better way to discuss what I've just said.
For me, Bach was the greatest composer that ever lived, and there is no reason why my personal opinion should be worth less than yours.
@Robert Kowalski No, my goal was not to victimize myself, I have used those words as I could have used others. That being said, you are making a fool of yourself for this childish attitude that you are having with others just for not sharing your tastes.
It must of been difficult to pick only ten. Great selection though!
Harder than people realise!
Thank you for including transcendental etude 10 on here. I feel like compared to the other etudes, that one can be overlooked, even though I personally think it’s one of the best.
I agree :)
@@TheModicaLiszt i wish you had included the rest of the climax though :
Amen!
Liszt was king of the keyboard both in playing and composing. No one has ever touched him and no one ever will.
There is a new 12 min recording of the Spanish Fantasy, probably one of the most things epic I have ever heard.
I found it very suspicious, but the pianist said that the recording was not edited.
Oi
Have you seen seon yong hwang's recording of it? It's also top tier!
Can you send a link?
@@Eeeeeee-j7o which one? The one mentioned in the original comment or the one I mentioned
These are all beautiful- such an influential composer
nice video!! petition for another video about his orchestral music hehe
So glad the lucrezia Borgia operatic fantasy transcription was included here. Great video!
Thank you!
wow, amazing compilation! I love F.Liszt, although his lesser known works (the mejority of his prolific ouvre, really) are still unknown to me. I loved piece #4 the one with the name in hungarian, with its drum-esque bass and really powerful motives in the right hand. I can perfectly hear them as a trumpet, as Liszt effectively makes his piano music sound like an orchestra.
The piece Oratorium Christus is also a breathtaking discovery for me. This prompted me to listen to the Oratorio in its original orchestral and vocal form: oh, my god man. (after listening to part one) You might be right, this is Liszt's best compostion.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Modica. Liszt is a treasure.
You’re most welcome :))
wow they’re all so so beautiful, in my opinion, liszt is the best composer:) it’s so hard to pick favorites from him, but these are all so amazing. God bless
Excellent video--I particularly appreciate your analysis of each piece! Liszt never fails to excite and amaze.
Thank you :D
This list is FIRE. Post more of these !!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥
I’m busy with university :( But I’ll endeavour to keep my channel up and running!
i always get to listen to new beautifl pieces on this channel!
I’m glad you enjoy my channel :)
Personally, I agree with the placement of Der Tanz in der Dorfschunke's placement; I absolutely adore the piece. Although, I do think a few parts of Liszt's Sonata in B minor belong here.
Read the description.
This is like a compilation of my favourite liszt pieces
Brilliant
I was thinking about making this type of video a day ago
The climax of Transcendental Etude no. 11 should definitely be in this list 😡
Not really.
@@TheModicaLiszt i think it could very well fit in here with its 4 pages of ff+ octaves
although theres probably many even more epic climaxes out there
@@nandovancreij I prefer No 10, I wasn’t going to have two of the TEs filling up the list. I had to compromise on fame, variation and length for a lot of them.
@@TheModicaLiszt fair point
Why not no.12
Those are indeed quite epic. Never listened to the second piece before. Definitely gonna have to play that one some day. Great video!
Thank you!
I love this second.
Fun video. Great choices!!!
Thanks!
SO cool‼️
I know it might not be of the same level of magnitude as some of these choices, but I really do love Liszt’s Liebestod transcription, and especially Horowitz’s recording which ended up being the last thing he ever played.
Thank you for doing this. This revealed to me the wonder that is the Blessing Of God In Solitude.
Liszt music is Very delicious and epic and motivate me and make everything 🙏 I hated Liszt At the beginning and now i love his music 🎵❤️
I appreciate changes of opinion like this, I’m glad you find joy in Liszt now :)
Very nice video 😁
That part like halfway through the b minor sonata needs to be here
Read the description!!
Oh wow! Some of these I'd never even heard of :D
I’m glad!
Only 10? Great choice of pieces, these Liszt climaxes are better than much else.
Thanks!
@@TheModicaLiszt This video just reminds me of how godly Liszt was, I mean you could attach 100+ climaxes to it and it still wouldn't get close! Well done for including a lot of the lesser known pieces though... there is an extraordinary amount of unknown Liszt out there and for the most part it should be heard. Cheers!
@@tomowenpianochannel I’m so happy you liked it :)
Good selection, not too mainstream
Awesome vid modica!
Thank you!
Liszt is the king of epic plays.
epic indeed
i was searching for something like this
Lovely
4'30 is more than an Epic Moment for me when j listen it by Alexander Malofeev : The Pianist of XXI iem Century also in virtuosity Mephisto W by my favorite Lizst : France Clidat . Lizst is not always Epic without an Epic Interpreter !
Good!
I really wish the Spanish rhapsody is on this list
It is cool indeed, the coda of S695c is arguably more epic!
@@TheModicaLiszt lmao that coda is way more fingerbreaking than any other liszt espagnol pieces
I love this music, Liszt is my favorite composer, but how is this playable?
😵
Very good compilation! I also think you could have squeezed in the S.420 Paganini fantasy.
No I couldn’t have.
@@TheModicaLiszt You don’t have to stick to just ten moments, there are many other epic moments in obscure Liszt works
@@trvm1 The point was to stick to ten. S420 is not as obscure as S700a/i
@@TheModicaLiszt Understandable.
this slaps
Sweet video! Nyiregihazi's recording of Christus could have easily been here (or indeed, of anything he played...)
Thank you :)
I think everyone was waiting to say this
you forgot Evocation à la Chapelle Sixtine. i know it is for organ but there is some insane stuff going on if you played it on piano.
Astonish compilation!
Where can I get the score for Reminiscences de Lucretia Borgia? Can someone help me? (I found it on imslp, but it’s in a very bad quality and I can’t practice on it).
Do you still need it? Found a new high quality version a few weeks ago
@@AlbertoCasado86 yes, I still need it, can you please send it to me?
2:21 oohhh the minor☹️ dante sonata and 6:58 the major😀 one!
What about wilde jagds ending :(
What about when the crazy arpeggios come in in Themes and Variations in A minor?
That is epic indeed.
Good selection. Unfortunately the recording of the Ballade has gone wrong and is distorted.
Yes
I was going to say WHERE IS LES PRELUDES but I realize it was piano (and piano versions of les preludes isn’t that good)but great video and even if I know a lot of Liszt some piece here was new and you had such great taste❤❤❤some in the top where my favorite
Thanks!
Liszt the overgod of piano
Where the actual fuck is La Campanella?
No
😂
@@f.p.2010 exactly
bro this is quality music not la campanella
not epic
What is the version of the Dante sonata in this video? I don't think I recognise a lot of the parts.
S158c, the version just prior to the final version published in Anneé II.
@@TheModicaLiszt interesting! I think I like the edits Liszt made to the final version, but it's cool to see the process
What editing software/website did you use to make this?
The Apple Mac one.
1:12 Elegie
Yup, Liszt is God
3:33
No good liszt video without dylonely
Great selection but i can't find the analysis. Could you please make it easy for me? Thank you
The description box on UA-cam has small annotations I have written on my choices.
@@TheModicaLiszt i listened it at first on my phone where i didn't see your annotations, now i am listening on laptop and i found them. Thank you, excellent choices, in love with Liszt
@@user-sy2xl4fh8n You’re most welcome :)
The climax of la campanella and hungarian rhapsody 6 where
Silence
Alt Account
Opinion on the Christus pieces?
Great
I'm surprised we didn't get one of the off the beaten path transcriptions, like a Beethoven symphony or one of the operas (e.g., Norma, Lucrezia Borgia, La Sonnambula, Wagner, etc). Not to say there might be room for a follow up lol. ;) Enjoyed the set though!
Ermmmmmmm S554 S400 S498b/2 are all off the beaten track transcriptions.
i can’t find some of these pieces in sheet music, like wenn es doch immer so bliebe. where did you find them?
They were published in the NLA Series II
@@TheModicaLiszt is NLA the national library of australia?
@@theenderclops Neue-Liszt Ausgabe
@@theenderclops Neue-Liszt Ausgabe
@@TheModicaLiszt OH thank you
I miss Vallee d'Obermann, is it too famous to fit in?
That piece is certainly amazing, but of similar ilk to Benediction, which I prefer and included in the list :)
@@TheModicaLiszt I don't think it is similar, to me it depicts a crisis in the d'Agoult/liszt-relationship. Not a trace of that in the Benediction. I was thinking of the build-up before the piece shifts to E major,
7:50 where did u find the sheet for réminiscences de Lucrezia borgia ?
It was published by the Neue Liszt-Ausgabe
@@TheModicaLiszt could you send me a link pls ?
@@jukeban646 www.kotta.info/en/product/12394A/LISZT-FERENC-Free-Arrangements-V
@@TheModicaLiszt thank you
@@TheModicaLisztoh i see so you numerized the sheet
45 million view? oh no no 45k view what a performance🤣🤣🤣
lol
It seems to me that a faster point should be touched, it remains that it does not fit well.
If you would like to speak in a way that makes you seem somewhat literate and understood, then feel free to do so one day.
wHeRe iS lAcAMpAneLLa??!!1!!1?
Totentanz should've been on here.
expecting the climax of Song of The Sheperds at The Manger on the liszt(srry for the pun. very punny. sorry). my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. great list tho
The climax of the March is surely more epic though, which is why I chose it…