Etude No.1 - Preludio
As the title suggests, a dazzling short fanfare covering all piano registers energetically sets up the grand scale of what is to come in the cycle.
Etude No.2 - In A minor
A concise, straightforward motive is introduced without warning and boldly tears its way through the piece in all its transformations of articulation and texture. The rhythm is similar to the “Fate” motive in Beethoven’s 5th Symphony; its unapologetic quality perhaps almost disciplines the music, the pianist, and the listener with “sharp as razor” pulsation. The character is reminiscent of Liszt’s impression of Paganini, with demonic and breathtaking rhythmic vigour.
Etude No.3 - Paysage
It is a study of tone painting at its finest, creating an atmosphere of a countryside landscape with multiple voices singing and sweeping gently on a bed of floating harmonies. A pastoral tranquillity with pianistic sublimity.
Etude No.4 - Mazeppa
Famous for its notorious difficulty, the title is inspired by the legend of Ivan Mazepa, a Ukrainian nobleman who, according to dramatic poem by Victor Hugo, was tied to a wild horse and sent into the wilderness as a punishment. The piece is an epic musical depiction of the bloody, tumultuous ride and eventual triumph of Mazeppa.
Etude No.5 - Feux Follets
It is a masterpiece that epitomizes the transcendental virtuosity and expressive depth of Liszt’s combination of technical challenges and poetic imagery. The light, fluttering passages mimic the elusive nature of will-o’-the-wisps, ghostly lights seen at night over marshes, swamps, and bogs.
Etude No.6 - Vision
A journey from darkness to sunlight expressed sincerely through Liszt’s spiritual and visionary quality. The transformation from the heavy G minor harmony in the opening to the shining G major conclusion visits all layers of harmonic ventures, from the mysterious to the heroic, from struggle to victory.
Etude No.7 - Eroica
Liszt’s “Eroica” is a tour de force through its orchestral texture, combining virtuosic demands with a powerful, heroic narrative. The Etude is in the key of E-flat major, often associated with heroic and grand themes like Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony and Emperor Concerto.
Etude No.8 - Wilde Jagd
Standing at the climax of dramatic intensity in the whole cycle, the piece vividly and dramatically depicts a wild, fast-paced, supernatural chase. The central theme is bold and vigorous, interspersed with lyrical and reflective sections that eventually triumph over the demonic force in the beginning in a volcanic climax.
Etude No.9 - Ricordanza
The collection’s more lyrical and reflective pieces showcased Liszt’s ability to blend virtuosic demands with profound expressiveness. The tile “Ricordanza” translates to “Remembrance” or “Memory” and the piece evokes a nostalgic and sentimental mood. Ferruccio Busoni refers to its delicate tough as “a bundle of faded love letters”. The Italian title suggests the influence of the Bel canto style, which is expressed with extreme elegance.
Etude No.10 - In F minor
Often titled “Appasionata”, the most emotional Etude to express humanity’s inner turmoil and struggle. The opening chords are like a sigh, followed by a theme of painful soaring and yearning, but ultimately prevail over the tragedy. The long lyrical lines eloquently capture the spirit of the “Suffering Romantic” in the 19th century. Liszt describes the fate of such Romantic soul as: “Mournful yet grand is the destiny of the artist.”
Etude No.11 - Harmonies du soir
This Etude is celebrated for its rich harmonies, lyrical beauty, and evocative atmosphere. It is a perfect example of Liszt’s ability to create a vivid, almost orchestral sound on the piano, conveying the serene and reflective mood of the evening. The magical opening, with its harmonic colouring fragments, foreshadows Debussy’s writing in the future.
Etude No.12 - Chasse Neige
A poetic painting of a relentless, swirling snowstorm that starts and ends quietly. Liszt was inspired and delivered the message that no man is more significant than nature. It is a majestic depiction of nature’s awesomeness and wrath, bordering on violence that evokes a sense of fear, respect, and, to a more significant extent, a warning to protect its existence.