Hungarian Rhapsody

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, S.244/2, is the second in a set of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies by composer Franz Liszt, and is by far the most famous of the set. Few other piano solos have achieved such widespread popularity, offering the pianist the opportunity to reveal exceptional skill as a virtuoso, while providing the listener with an immediate and irresistible musical appeal. In both the original piano solo form and in the orchestrated version this composition has enjoyed widespread use in animated cartoons. Its themes have also served as the basis of several popular songs. The Hungarian-born composer and pianist Franz Liszt was strongly influenced by the music heard in his youth, particularly Hungarian folk music, with its unique gypsy scale, rhythmic spontaneity and direct, seductive expression. These elements would eventually play a significant role in Liszt's compositions. Although this prolific composer's works are highly varied in style, a relatively large part of his output is nationalistic in character, the Hungarian Rhapsodies being an ideal example. Composed in 1847 and dedicated to Count Lszl Teleki, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 was first published as a piano solo in 1851 by Senff and Ricordi. Its immediate success and popularity on the concert stage soon led to an orchestrated version, arranged by the composer in collaboration with Franz Doppler, and published by Schuberth. In addition to the orchestral version, the composer arranged a piano duet version in 1874, published by Schuberth the following year. By the late 19th century and early 20th century, the excruciating technical challenges of the piano solo version led to its acceptance as the "unofficial standard" by which every notable pianist would "prove his salt", usually as a smashing finale.[citation needed] It had become an expected staple of virtually every performance of the greatest pianists of the time. Offering an outstanding contrast to the serious and dramatic lassan, the following friska holds enormous appeal for audiences, with its simple alternating tonic and dominant harmonization, its energetic, toe-tapping rhythms, and breath-taking "pianistics".

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat major is the sixth work of the 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies composed by Franz Liszt. This work was dedicated to Count Antoine of Appony and uses the form of Lassan and Friska like many other rhapsodies. The piece was later arranged for orchestra. The first part of the rhapsody is an introduction (Tempo Giusto), where the left hand of the player plays a steady bassline made up of the chords in the D-flat major scale. Due to the overlapping of the melody over the bars, the piece does not sound as though if it is in a 2/4 rhythm. This is because Liszt did not start the first chord of the piece as an upbeat, which is what many composers would have done to relate to the time signature of the piece. The melody of the first part is quite repetitive, ending with a long cadenza, using mostly the black keys. The second part (presto) is inC-sharp major (which is simply an enharmonic version of the previous D-flat, not a modulation) and has a lively rhythm, leading to the Lassan, in B-flat minor. The Lassan is played slowly like an improvised rhythm, again finishing with a large cadenza at the end, leading sequentially to Friska (Allegro). The Friska in B-flat major uses the notes: F, G, A, B-flat, C, D and E-flat. The melody is played in semiquavers and is considered to be quite difficult, since it demands the player to move fast in octaves. The bass line stays the same, strong quaver rhythms, also quite difficult to hit with precision at high speed. The final part of the piece ends with chromatic scales in octaves moving in contrary motion, and ends with majestic B-flat major chords. The piece in whole is quite a lively piece, with the use of the gypsy scale. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 8, S.244/8, in F-sharp minor, is the eighth Hungarian Rhapsody composed by Franz Liszt for solo piano. It was composed in 1847 and published in 1853. It has been nicknamed the "Capriccio".

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Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9, S.244/9, in E-flat major, is the ninth Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt. It is nicknamed the "Carnival in Pest" and was composed in 1847. A typical performance of the piece lasts ten minutes. [1] Liszt has also made versions of the piece for piano four hands and for piano, violin, and cello.[1] Hungarian Rhapsody no. 10 in E major, S.244/10, is a composition for solo piano by Franz Liszt. It is tenth in the set of his Hungarian Rhapsodies, and is subtitled Preludio, although this name is not commonly used. It, along with the rest of the first fifteen rhapsodies, were published in 1853. After a brief introduction with three glissando-like passages in a rather free time, the tempo changes to Andante deciso, and the instantly recognizable, lighthearted and carefree first theme is introduced. After a cadenza, the tempo changes to Allegretto capriccioso and a much darker theme is introduced, this time in the parallel minor of E minor. Despite the fact that it is a much darker theme, the carefree feel of the piece remains. After some time, there is a fairly long cadenza filled with trills between the hands, as the key modulates freely. The glissando-like passages return to be a repeated theme for the rest of the piece, especially when the tempo changes to a much fasterVivace and the key changes to C major. This results in many glissandos, sometimes in both hands. After this, the darker second theme returns in E minor, this time sempre forte brioso, meaningalways loud and spirited. Before the end of the piece, the key changes back to E major, the original key, and a new theme is introduced. The piece ends in loud, booming chords in both hands. Typical performance time is around 5 minutes. The piece is one of the more popular Hungarian Rhapsodies. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, S.244/11, in A minor, is the eleventh Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt. Being one of the shorter Hungarian Rhapsodies, it has a duration of five minutes.[1] Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12, S.244/12, in C-sharp minor, is the twelfth Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt. An average performance of the piece lasts eleven minutes. It is considered to be one of the most ingenius Hungarian Rhapsodies that Liszt wrote, as well as one of the most difficult.

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Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13, S.244/13, in A minor, is the thirteenth Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt. The rhapsody is among one of the least popular of the Hungarian Rhapsodies, seldom appearing on recital programs or on recordings except as part of the entire set. An average performance of the work lasts from eight to ten minutes.

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Hungarian Rhapsody No. 14, S.244/14, in F minor, is the fourteenth Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt. The Hungarian Fantasy, written in 1852, is an arrangement of the rhapsody for piano and orchestra. The rhapsody's duration is around twelve minutes.

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Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15, S.244/15, in A minor, is the fifteenth Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt. The rhapsody is subtitled Rkczi March and was written in 1853. An average performance of the piece lasts around six minutes.

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Number

Piano solo

Orchestra

Piano Duet

Piano Trio

Key

Dedication

Comments

No. 1

S. 244/1

C-sharp minor

Ede Szerdahelyi

Liszt made an earlier version entitled "Rves et fantaisies"

No. 2

S. 244/2

S. 359/4

S. 621/2

C-sharp minor

Comte Lszl Teleki

No. 3

S. 244/3

B-flat major

Comte Le Festetics

No. 4

S. 244/4

E-flat major

Comte Casimir Esterhzy

No. 5

S. 244/5

S. 359/5

S. 621/5

E minor

Comtesse Sidonie Reviczky

Subtitled Hrode-lgiaque

No. 6

S. 244/6

S. 359/3

S. 621/3

D-flat major

Comte Antoine d'Appony

No. 7

S. 244/7

D minor

Baron Fery Orczy

No. 8

S. 244/8

F-sharp minor

Anton Augusz

No. 9

S. 244/9

S. 359/6

S. 621/6

S. 379

E-flat major

Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst

Subtitled Pesther Carneval

No. 10

S. 244/10

E major

Bni Egressy

Subtitled "Preludio"

No. 11

S. 244/11

A minor

Baron Fery Orczy

No. 12

S. 244/12

S. 359/2

S. 621/4

S. 379a

C-sharp minor

Joseph Joachim

Number

Piano solo

Orchestra

Piano Duet

Piano Trio

Key

Dedication

Comments

No. 13

S. 244/13

A minor

Comte Le Festetics

No. 14

S. 244/14

S. 359/1

S. 621/1

F minor

Hans von Blow

arranged for piano and orchestra as Hungarian Fantasia, S. 123

No. 15

S. 244/15

A minor

Subtitled Rkczi-Marsch

No. 16

S. 244/16

S. 622

A minor

Michael Munkcsy

Subtitled Budapest Munkcsy-Festlichkeiten

No. 17

S. 244/17

D minor

No. 18

S. 244/18

S. 623

F-sharp minor

Subtitled Ungarischen Ausstellung in Budapest

No. 19

S. 244/19

S. 623a

D minor

d'aprs les 'Csrds nobles' de K. brnyi (sr)

The first two were published in the year 1851, while nos. 3-15 in 1853, with the last four being added in 1882 and 1886.