Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Etude

Compose Date

:

1862 - 1863

Publication Date

:

1863

Average_duration

:

7:24

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Franz Liszt's Konzertetüden (2), S. 145, is a set of two concert studies for piano. The work was composed in 1862 and premiered in the same year in Weimar, Germany. The two movements are titled "Waldesrauschen" (Forest Murmurs) and "Gnomenreigen" (Dance of the Gnomes). The first movement, "Waldesrauschen," is characterized by its flowing arpeggios and rapid runs, which evoke the sound of rustling leaves and the movement of water in a forest stream. The piece is in the key of D-flat major and is marked "Andantino" (moderately slow). The melody is carried by the right hand, while the left hand provides a steady accompaniment of broken chords. The piece builds to a climax before subsiding into a gentle coda. The second movement, "Gnomenreigen," is a lively and playful piece in the key of A-flat major. The title translates to "Dance of the Gnomes," and the music reflects the mischievous and capricious nature of these mythical creatures. The piece is marked "Presto" (very fast) and is characterized by its rapid, staccato notes and frequent changes in tempo and dynamics. The melody is passed between the hands, with the left hand often playing in a higher register than the right. The piece ends with a flourish of trills and arpeggios. Overall, Liszt's Konzertetüden (2), S. 145, is a virtuosic showcase for the pianist, with both movements requiring a high level of technical skill and dexterity. The pieces are also notable for their programmatic elements, with "Waldesrauschen" evoking the natural world and "Gnomenreigen" depicting a fantastical realm of gnomes and other magical creatures.

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