The Liszt Modulation

In this video, I explain what I believe to be one of the most beautiful modulations in classical music: the bridge between movements 1 and 2 of Liszt's Sonata in B Minor
---------
Join my discord server to chat with me and get early access to scripts and video topics. / discord
Follow me on Instagram: / polychoron_productions [polychoron_productions]
Email: [e-mail]
---------
#musictheory #liszt

[@PolychoronProductions]

## CORRECTIONS
2:27: "C slash B double sharp" should be "C slash B sharp"
"Liszt" should be pronounced "list", not "least" :)

[@Gloopyboop]

I'm pretty sure Hungarian doesn't have the vowel sound used in the word "list" (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Hungarian). "Least" seems to be more accurate as it is written on the wiki page in IPA symbols (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Liszt). Here are some supposed Hungarians speaking his name: forvo.com/word/ferenc_liszt/. For some more: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/liszt and www.ipachart.com/.

[@DottoreSM]

"least" is closer to the original

[@luis_lng]

@@DottoreSM no it isnt

[@hom2fu]

southern accent

[@segmentsAndCurves]

Liszt never ceases to amaze.

[@bangryak]

Thanks for making this video, it was great to take a closer look at this key change. Here are some more corrections that might clear up some confusion:
1:02 - I think people would usually notate this as B7b9, not E7b9 (use the root of the chord, not the tonic)
1:22 - Similarly, this would be Go7 (or F-double-sharp o7), not G#o7.
2:55 - B#7b9, not E#7b9j. Also I don't quite buy this interpretation; although it can be viewed as the dominant in the key of E#, there are no other chords from E# major afterward.
3:19 - G# minor is usually denoted with a lowercase m (G#m), since capital M usually denotes major.
3:22 - Did you mean "first chord that is *diatonic* to the destination key of F# major"?

[@JanCarlComposer]

1:22 It must be Fxo7

[@delfink4333]

I don’t know enough music theory to understand this, but it still was very interesting to watch hah

[@segmentsAndCurves]

Voice leading. Done!

[@f52_yeevy]

Wonderful video as always! Very accurate and interesting, thank you!

[@amoryblaine2123]

I didnt know the theory behind the piece but that modulation is one of the sweetest things in the piece or the world

[@bagaboiebailey]

Nice small yet high-quality channel!

[@bruhnling33]

So well done, beautifully explained

[@fyremusic6307]

hi this will honestly blow up, this is really good channel, just need more people too see

[@composer7325]

Excellent, thank you.

[@kofiLjunggren]

Amazing analysis

[@andreswainselboim9217]

Nice video! As I listened to the passage it ocurred to me that the chromatic pivot chord can also be heard as a Ger6 in Em (if in an unusual inversion), which stays in the previously established tonal center.
Another interesting detail I think smooths the passage is that the top C has a contrapuntal (as 9th of the chord) and tonal (as m6 of E) tendency to resolve down to B (5 of E). However, when it is reinterpreted chromatically as B# it becomes (in view of the whole phrase) a tone which still tends to resolve to 5 (C# in F#), but now from the opposite direction.
I feel these kind of fragments illustrate an important reason for the adoption of enharmonic equivalence in our tuning systems, since it allows for such expressive ambiguities!

[@bigdog38au]

V9 in Em is a B7b9.

[@cloud-dv1wb]

lmao "Least"

[@DarthTwilight]

Ha! The HTML warnings of musical sacrilege are pretty funny... Liszt would give Bach and his crustacean canon a run for their money.

[@rokakakaorganisation6251]

liszt is just perfect

[@willzahary1492]

Graet video!
Edit: great*

[@Whaijorhujishkomunyk]

Wow thanks

[@Jesusmlrw]

This video is amazing. From 3:30 on things get very hard. Could imagine writing a kind of formula?? Like (home key -> Chord X note y chord z new key. I know its longer but it would be super cool) That is also for dummies. Thanks a million.

[@dangelobenjamin]

That is what the Roman numerals are for!

[@franzliszt4545]

never heard anyone say 'Liszt' like 'Leest' lol

[@memoryfound9208]

leest? i thought you said “weest”

[@gmfrunzik]

I mean it’s close to the original Hungarian pronunciation

[@evr551]

Now tell me more about the most modulation.

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

S718???? Perhaps you meant S178

[@juwonnnnn]

👌

[@James_Bowie]

Great, but please his name is not Least, it's Liszt.

[@nilsfrederking62]

You pronounce "Liszt" like the English word "list" and not "least", so with a short "i".

[@gmfrunzik]

Not in hungarian

[@VocalEdgeTV]

Leeast? Wut

[@swaroov9236]

Tabs too

[@nanthilrodriguez]

That's the least modulation I've ever heard

[@WRETCHEDAVION]

The-MIN(E)' Doesn't-'Know' ... What-The-Ears-Cun't-HERE!!!??? >(*U^)< (Joke) *Wink* ie "I'-Wanna-'Hold'-Yur HAN [+] She's-Got-[R]-Ticket-To RYE-EYE ... The-BEATLES'-[1] ... Is-An-Absolute'-SCREAM In-The-Car When-Going-On HOLIDAY.