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Romantic · character piece

Liebesträume No. 3, S. 541

Franz Liszt · Level 9, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A dream of love that had a sung life as well as a piano life. Liebesträume No. 3, S. 541 is a character piece by Franz Liszt from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 9, an estimate.

On this page
  • character piece
  • Romantic
  • dreamy
  • grand

Also known as Liebesträume, S. 541: No. 3, O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst.

History

The third Liebestraum belongs to Liszt's Three Notturnos, issued in 1850 in versions for high voice with piano and for piano solo. The related song uses words by Ferdinand Freiligrath. Its history therefore connects the familiar piano piece with vocal poetry, rather than treating the title as evidence of an invented romantic episode in Liszt's life.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A quiet contour over flowing sound

    Hear the quiet opening contour emerge from the flowing texture. Follow the longer shape rather than giving every accompanying note equal weight.

  2. Octaves bring a more animated response

    The more animated region uses rising octave and chordal gestures. Hear the fuller response as a change from the quiet opening.

  3. Density becomes a transition

    A second dense passage leads into a transition. Listen to how its concentrated movement prepares what follows, rather than hearing it as an unrelated flourish.

  4. The close gradually lets go

    The continuation softens and slows toward a quiet ending. Hear the remaining movement settle without losing the longer phrase.

How to practise it

Follow the sustained inner melody through the surrounding broken-chord texture.

  1. Identify the sustained melodic voice separately from the moving figure.
  2. Keep the repeated broken-chord groups supportive.
  3. Follow musical voices across staves instead of treating staff position as a hand instruction.

How hard is it

Level 9, estimated

A sustained singing line through rich accompaniment and demanding cadenzas requires advanced voicing and flexible coordination.

About this piece

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

More by Franz Liszt

  1. Consolation No. 1, S. 172Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Follow the sustained inner melody through the surrounding broken-chord texture.

Practise it in PlayPiano