An Examination of the piano studies by Franz Liszt

The word " Study " in music, describes a work written for developing and improving the technic of instrument playing. Begining from the invention and development of the piano until today, many composers and piano teachers have written sets of studies for the piano. Franz Liszt, no doubt is the greatest piano virtuozo of all times though as a composer he has been the subject of considerable discussion. His piano studies, should be considered as expanded works, for beyond the conventional study concept Liszt wrote twelve short studies, when he was fourteen years of age. In 1837, he revised and developed these short studies, naming them "12 Etudes D'execution Transcendante " (12 Transcendental Studies). According to many musicians, these set of studies were so difficult to play that, no one else but Liszt only could play them. However, in 1851 he made yet another version of the transcendental studies, the one we know today. Setting out from the violin caprices by Paganini, the famous violin virtuoso, he wrote six piano studies named, " Six Etudes D'apres Paganini " (Six studies on Paganini's Caprices). These studies published in 1840, were revised and republished in 1851. The " Three Concert Studies " and the " Two Concert Studies " which bear picturesque and poetic titles, date a little later than the Paganini Studies. All the studies of Liszt are among the most important works of piano literature, possesing musical expression besides technical difficulties. n