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Romantic · rhapsody

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Franz Liszt · Level 10, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A showpiece with a political dedication. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is a piece by Franz Liszt from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 10, an estimate.

On this page
  • rhapsody
  • Romantic
  • dancing
  • grand
  • ornaments

Also known as S. 244/2.

History

An autograph of Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody is dated 27 March 1847. Bartholf Senff published the work in 1851. Its dedicatee, Count László Teleki, was a Hungarian political reformer then living in exile in Paris. That context gives the dedication another dimension: Eckhardt reads it as an expression of Liszt's political sympathy.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A spacious opening gesture

    Listen to the slow introduction as a broad gesture with room between attacks. The companion reference describes this opening as capricious; it does not establish a fixed spacing for every ornament.

  2. The slower melody unfolds

    The companion reference marks this span Lassan. Follow the melody through its changing continuation, keeping the larger phrase audible as decoration enters.

  3. A quicker character enters

    After the long pause, the companion reference introduces Friska. Listen for the change of character and the repeated-note material that gathers energy toward the next section.

  4. Energy through changing textures

    The Vivace span develops through active variations and octave drives. Hear how the texture changes while its energetic direction continues.

  5. A cue for a freer gesture

    The companion reference places a cadenza cue before the prestissimo drive. Notice the contrast in gesture, without assuming that this identifies a particular performer cadenza.

  6. Punctuation before the final close

    Slower chordal punctuation interrupts the drive before the final Presto close. Hear the broad arrivals and the renewed motion as contrasting parts of one ending.

How to practise it

Separate long dramatic gestures from short accompanying attacks

  1. Contrast the held line with short attacks
  2. Keep the ornamental figure distinct from the long line

How hard is it

Level 10, estimated

The full-work source is proposed as an advanced virtuoso performance target, with substantial contrast and coordination demands rather than an easy familiar-theme arrangement.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Franz Liszt, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Licence
CC0
Source
musescore.com

More by Franz Liszt

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

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Separate long dramatic gestures from short accompanying attacks

Practise it in PlayPiano