Franz Liszt is known for his fanatical style and his virtuosity as a pianist. It shows in his many works for piano. His Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2 for piano is one of the most challenging in his entire repertoire. As is known about this piece, it starts off in the most haunting C sharp tonal center that mimics the major key before becoming of the darker nature (minor). While in the C sharp minor tonality, there is a great deal of complicated trills and breakneck cadenzas and solo breaks that keep your ears reeling, thirsty for more. There is a lot of sixteenth note figures that snap around and latch to longer rhythmic centers. There are a lot of starts and stops in the piece that adds to the tension and the excitement of the first portion of the piece. There are a lot of glimpses in the piece where the later activity ensues. The piece is famous for its galloping rhythm that reminds one of a circus unfolding all around. There is another brief pause. Then, all breaks loose and Liszt lets things fly. The galloping rhythm comes back in a ravishing D-flat chord. The whole piece is in G-flat major now. Then boom! The striking melody in D-flat going back to G-flat is famous. The composer then does sort of a theme and variations with a melody he plucks out of thin air. The piece is the very epitome of feeling. Some composers are very mathematical but some like Liszt are over-the-top feeling people. You have to know your chromatic scales and major and minor scales like the back of your hand in order to execute the finger-flying scale package. The repeated notes on the ends of the melodic passages strike a pinnacle of the hall of piano technique. My question is how to do all the top finger harmonies while doing the melodies of the left hand or crossovers? It surely would be a sight to watch. It is a circus. Add to all this the melody being done in octaves before the dramatic climax of IV, V, I. In the end all the beautiful chaos, there is finally resolution. The circus concludes here. This is one of the few pieces that I would love to see in concert in the orchestra hall. The gushing technique of multiple harmonies, especially at very peak speeds is more than merely jaw-dropping. It makes me miss being a music major. It helps me relive the glory days. If you want a challenge at SMP level ten, this one’s for you!
