[WARNING: Classical Music Talk] Chopin vs Liszt

To me, Liszt was just all about flashy hand skills, fast octaves and what not. But Chopin wrote songs that were poetic, and that were deep. For example: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tvm2ZsRv3C8 and http://youtube.com/watch?v=NRuD1L9FPZA

Who do you prefer? (and people who have no clue who they are don't post lol)

i dont even know what u are talking about :|MichaeltheCM

Then don't comment on the thread. Is the concept of not commenting on topic about which you know nothing really that difficult to fathom?

i dont even know what u are talking about :|MichaeltheCM

To me, Liszt was just all about flashy hand skills, fast octaves and what not. But Chopin wrote songs that were poetic, and that were deep. For example: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tvm2ZsRv3C8 and http://youtube.com/watch?v=NRuD1L9FPZA

Who do you prefer? (and people who have no clue who they are don't post lol)

lonewolf604

Lol! 2 votes!

(I bet it was me and TC ;))

I can't deal with cheezy piano zealots- give me Mahler/Barber/Gorecki...azklown

Both Chopin and Liszt were rather remarkable musical innovators... give credit where credit is due. For the record, most of the greatest composers in the Western tradition were 'cheezy piano zealots,' because they were pianists.

chopin all the way baby, have you seen the only pic of him, man hes ugly but he made such awesome music.

I prefer Chopin though I like Liszt as well. Chopin is more musical and emotional, while liszt's stuff is very technically impressive. However, some times Liszt's pieces sound more like learning etudes then music.

On a sound note Liszt is single handidly responsible for ruining the careers of 90% of future pianists.

I definitely prefer Chopin's overall output to that of Liszt, though the latter is not without his charms. Too often, I find Liszt's music employs a form of empty virtuosity, which serves no real musical purpose. This is rarely the case in Chopin's music (well, his mature music, that is). I also tend to prefer Chopin's sense of lyricism and subtelty. It's a shame hedidn't live longer, as some of his late music is really quite stunning contrapuntally and harmonically.pianist

I prefer Chopin though I like Liszt as well. Chopin is more musical and emotional, while liszt's stuff is very technically impressive. However, some times Liszt's pieces sound more like learning etudes then music.

On a sound note Liszt is single handidly responsible for ruining the careers of 90% of future pianists.

reddevilyi

Well, not really. It's the pianists (and to some extent their teachers) who are responsible for ruining the careers of pianists. And 90% may be a BIT of a hyperbole. :P

Anyways, I agree with your evaluation of Liszt. Much of what he writes just isn't good listening, though he did write many pieces of merit. He was also a great innovator of piano technique, and his influence on the development of piano technique must be respected.

[QUOTE="pianist"]I definitely prefer Chopin's overall output to that of Liszt, though the latter is not without his charms. Too often, I find Liszt's music employs a form of empty virtuosity, which serves no real musical purpose. This is rarely the case in Chopin's music (well, his mature music, that is). I also tend to prefer Chopin's sense of lyricism and subtelty. It's a shame hedidn't live longer, as some of his late music is really quite stunning contrapuntally and harmonically.lonewolf604

He led a pretty miserable existence, really. All he had was music. And here we are now, enjoying the fruits of his misery. Really puts things in perspective.

[QUOTE="reddevilyi"]

I prefer Chopin though I like Liszt as well. Chopin is more musical and emotional, while liszt's stuff is very technically impressive. However, some times Liszt's pieces sound more like learning etudes then music.

On a sound note Liszt is single handidly responsible for ruining the careers of 90% of future pianists.

pianist

Well, not really. It's the pianists (and to some extent their teachers) who are responsible for ruining the careers of pianists. And 90% may be a BIT of a hyperbole. :P

Anyways, I agree with your evaluation of Liszt. Much of what he writes just isn't good listening, though he did write many pieces of merit. He was also a great innovator of piano technique, and his influence on the development of piano technique must be respected.

Yeah I know I just pulled those numbers out of the air, but it's still kind of ridiculus to expect aspiring pianists to have pieces that Liszt specifically designed to only be played by himself in their repetoire

Yeah I know I just pulled those numbers out of the air, but it's still kind of ridiculus to expect aspiring pianists to have pieces that Liszt specifically designed to only be played by himself in their repetoire

reddevilyi

I don't think so. What's ridiculous is attempting to learn the pieces before you're up to the technical challenge they present. There are much more difficult pieces in the literature than the vast majority of what Liszt wrote. Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit, for instance.

Why can't someone who doesin't know who they are not post? you provided links to songs and I think you're comparing the music and not they're hair styles, no?mark4091

Both of the links were to Chopin's music, so a comparison may be difficult.

[QUOTE="reddevilyi"]

Yeah I know I just pulled those numbers out of the air, but it's still kind of ridiculus to expect aspiring pianists to have pieces that Liszt specifically designed to only be played by himself in their repetoire

pianist

I don't think so. What's ridiculous is attempting to learn the pieces before you're up to the technical challenge they present. There are much more difficult pieces in the literature than the vast majority of what Liszt wrote. Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit, for instance.

I'm watching someone play that piece on youtube.. I think it would take me a decade to learn that song. :|

[QUOTE="mark4091"]Why can't someone who doesin't know who they are not post? you provided links to songs and I think you're comparing the music and not they're hair styles, no?pianist

Both of the links were to Chopin's music, so a comparison may be difficult.

hmmm, alright, I should post one then

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zS5LRRsNYZk

[QUOTE="mark4091"]Why can't someone who doesin't know who they are not post? you provided links to songs and I think you're comparing the music and not they're hair styles, no?pianist

Both of the links were to Chopin's music, so a comparison may be difficult.

oops i should have done that in the first place

Liszt Grand Galop:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SygS5yz7x5M

Chopin Revolutionary Etude:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RpTuBGDPXOM

And I ain't sayin Liszt has NO poetic sounds in his songs, I mean, wasn't he influenced by Chopin? That's what I heard.

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="mark4091"]Why can't someone who doesin't know who they are not post? you provided links to songs and I think you're comparing the music and not they're hair styles, no?lonewolf604

Both of the links were to Chopin's music, so a comparison may be difficult.

oops i should have done that in the first place

Liszt Grand Galop:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SygS5yz7x5M

Chopin Revolutionary Etude:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RpTuBGDPXOM

And I ain't sayin Liszt has NO poetic sounds in his songs, I mean, wasn't he influenced by Chopin? That's what I heard.

They were acquaintances, but Liszt was by no means a poor man's version of Chopin. There are similarities between their styIes, but each has a very personal voice.

The piece you've presented by Liszt is by no means a representation of his poetic styIe. That's a show-piece, plain and simple.

I'm going to say Chopin. Eternal Sonata is going to be about him and his music, so I hope that game is good.Conanfan1

They're making a video game about Chopin? :lol:

The title's rather ironic, since Chopin is well-noted for his dislike of traditional sonata form, and only wrote a few sonatas in his whole career.

[QUOTE="Conanfan1"]I'm going to say Chopin. Eternal Sonata is going to be about him and his music, so I hope that game is good.pianist

They're making a video game about Chopin? :lol:

The title's rather ironic, since Chopin is well-noted for his dislike of traditional sonata form, and only wrote a few sonatas in his whole career.

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="Conanfan1"]I'm going to say Chopin. Eternal Sonata is going to be about him and his music, so I hope that game is good.lonewolf604

They're making a video game about Chopin? :lol:

The title's rather ironic, since Chopin is well-noted for his dislike of traditional sonata form, and only wrote a few sonatas in his whole career.

lol, I like Eternal Mazurka.

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="Conanfan1"]I'm going to say Chopin. Eternal Sonata is going to be about him and his music, so I hope that game is good.lonewolf604

They're making a video game about Chopin? :lol:

The title's rather ironic, since Chopin is well-noted for his dislike of traditional sonata form, and only wrote a few sonatas in his whole career.

If it were me, I'd use 'Nocturne' - it's appropriate to both Chopin, and the theme of this video game.

lol, I like Eternal Mazurka.

reddevilyi

Pfft... Eternal Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante is clearly a more appropriate title.

[QUOTE="reddevilyi"]

lol, I like Eternal Mazurka.

pianist

Pfft... Eternal Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante is clearly a more appropriate title.