Gnomenreigen, Two Concert Études, No. 2

History

Gnomenreigen is the second of two concert études Liszt composed for piano in Rome in 1862. The pair was also published separately in 1863. Its title, often rendered Dance of the Gnomes, belongs to a specific concert-study pair, rather than a connection to Grieg's similarly fantastical March of the Dwarfs.

Sources

• henle.de

What to listen for

1. 1

   Short cells leave room for ornaments

   Displaced short cells and small-note ornaments establish the opening texture. Hear the gaps and quick replies without making every small note equally heavy.

2. 2

   The opening cells return in writing

   Related short cells return after the contrasting flight. Listen for their familiar shape within the renewed texture.

3. 3

   Growing chords change the balance

   The three-sharp return expands upper chords. Hear their broader sound as a change from the earlier compact cells.

4. 4

   Thin gestures leave a held ending

   The final texture becomes thin before the held close. Hear the last small movements settle rather than carrying the earlier density through the release.

How to practise it

Keep the staggered grace approaches and short releases precise.

1. Practise each grace-to-main pair lightly, then connect the rests between pairs.
2. Count each layer's rests alone, then combine only one short gesture at a time.
3. Connect the examined gestures slowly while keeping the stated layers distinct.

How hard is it

About this piece

Collection

The study studio

Licence

CC0

Source

musescore.com

More by Franz Liszt

1. 1Consolation No. 1, S. 172Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
2. 2Liebesträume No. 3, S. 541Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
3. 3Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro