Whose solo piano music floats your boat?

[vinteuil]

Is there any truth in the story that Liszt named his pieces "Transcendental" because they were so technically demanding he was the only one able to perform them?

... no, he was in an anaesthetic stupor after tooth-extraction : trance en dental


[ ... wezma coat? ]

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[ahinton]

Is there any truth in the story that Liszt named his pieces "Transcendental" because they were so technically demanding he was the only one able to perform them?

I don't know, but I'm quite sure that Alkan could have played them (not that I've any evidence that he actually did).

[Serial_Apologist]

... no, he was in an anaesthetic stupor after tooth-extraction : trance en dental


[ ... wezma coat? ]

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[Joseph K]

Is there any truth in the story that Liszt named his pieces "Transcendental" because they were so technically demanding he was the only one able to perform them?

Funnily enough, they were more technically demanding when they were called 'Grand études' - only in the later, final version with somewhat less demanding (but still very demanding) textures were they called 'transcendental'.

[kea]

Is there any truth in the story that Liszt named his pieces "Transcendental" because they were so technically demanding he was the only one able to perform them?

I don't think so—the Études d'execution transcendante d'après Paganini (early version of the Paganini Etudes) were dedicated to Clara Schumann as a wedding present. So probably she could play them, but since her relationship with Liszt became quite strained during the 1840s and she ceased to play any of his works in concert for the rest of her life, we obviously don't know for sure. And the Transcendental Etudes themselves were dedicated to Carl Czerny, Liszt's teacher and himself a virtuoso pianist (and prolific composer of etudes). "Transcendental" is probably meant as more of a direction for interpretation.

[gradus]

'Finger heroes' was one of Clara's epithets to describe the keyboard virtuosi of her time inc I believe Liszt.

[vinteuil]

'Finger heroes' was one of Clara's epithets to describe the keyboard virtuosi of her time inc I believe Liszt.

... Orlando Gibbons was described as "the best Finger of his Age".


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[BBMmk2]

I'll have to buy a recording of the work now. Reccomendations anyone?

[Richard Tarleton]

I'll have to buy a recording of the work now. Reccomendations anyone?

Fine recent one by Daniil Trifonov on DG.....Jeno Jando on Naxos.....Leslie Howard as part of the complete Liszt piano works on Hyperion (100 CDs )

[Pianorak]

Jorge Bolet's 1970 recording for Ensayo (reissued on Piano Classics). My favourite.
Lazar Berman on Piano Classics, (2 CDs) and Melodiya: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liszt-Trans...erman+melodiya

[Serial_Apologist]

'Finger heroes' was one of Clara's epithets to describe the keyboard virtuosi of her time inc I believe Liszt.

I well remember the description of "Mister Fast Fingers" being applied to the jazz pianist Django Bates by a fellow jazz pianist - who had better remain nameless! - when he first came to prominence about 30 years ago!

[Beef Oven!]

Currently having my boat floated wonderfully by Franz Liszt - Etudes D'Exécution Transcendante.

[Richard Tarleton]

Currently having my boat floated wonderfully by Franz Liszt - Etudes D'Exécution Transcendante.

see #144

[Beef Oven!]

see #144

That's what prompted me to take the CD from the shelf

[visualnickmos]

Keith Jarrett.