[Lower Difficulty] Recommended Piano Pieces by Franz Liszt [Intermediate]
Franz Liszt is one of the quintessential pianist-composers of the 19th century, and he’s also known for his virtuosic style influenced by Niccolò Paganini.
Signature works such as La Campanella—an arrangement based on the theme from Paganini’s Violin Concerto—and the Hungarian Rhapsody No.
2 demand advanced technique, and even the famously “easier” Liebesträume No.
3 is actually an advanced piece when you sit down to play it.
Even so, for intermediate players who still want to try their hand at Liszt, this article gathers pieces— including some lesser-known works—researched for relatively lower difficulty within Liszt’s output.
A must-check for anyone looking to level up as a pianist!
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[Easier Difficulty] Recommended Piano Pieces by Franz Liszt [Intermediate] (11–20)
Transcendental Etude in F major “Landscape” Poco adagioNEW!Franz Liszt
The third piece from an etude collection published in 1852.
Unlike the flashy virtuosity often associated with Liszt, it paints rich natural scenery and beautiful scenes through quiet song and gentle broken chords.
Although the middle section gains a bit more motion, it returns to the original calm atmosphere at the end.
Because the technical difficulty of this piece is relatively moderate, it is among the more approachable works.
However, it still requires control to let the melody emerge naturally and the ability to convey changes in harmonic color.
For that reason, it’s recommended for those who want to practice not just moving their fingers, but infusing shifting emotions into the resonance.
As you savor the beautiful sonorities, try to express its poetic world.
Poetic and Religious Melody No. 6: Hymn to the Child Awakened from SleepFranz Liszt
A piano collection composed with free imagination and consisting of ten pieces of varying scale, Harmonies poétiques et religieuses.
Said to have been inspired by the poems of the French Romantic poet Alphonse de Lamartine, its sixth piece, Hymne de l’enfant à son réveil (Hymn of a Child on Awakening), is an arrangement for solo piano of Franz Liszt’s choral work of the same name.
While based on the choral piece, it incorporates melodies that draw out the piano’s timbral beauty to the fullest, resulting in a richly varied and rewarding work to perform.
Liebesträume No. 3Franz Liszt
Composed by Franz Liszt around 1845 as a song and arranged in 1850 for solo piano, this work is distinguished by its beautiful melody and profound emotional expression.
Based on a poem themed around human love, it conveys both the depth and transience of love.
Written in the nocturne form with the passionate, lyrical style characteristic of the Romantic era, it has also been used as background music in films and television dramas.
This piece is recommended for those who wish to refine their piano technique or simply enjoy a beautiful melody that resonates with the heart.
DedicationSchumann＝Liszt
This Schumann-Liszt “Widmung” is Franz Liszt’s solo piano arrangement of the song cycle Myrthen, Op.
25, which Robert Schumann presented to his wife Clara on the eve of their wedding.
Among arranged classical works, there are many pieces that add such distinctive alterations that the originals are hardly recognizable.
In this piece, however, Schumann’s song is faithfully recreated while incorporating Liszt’s characteristically pianistic expression, resulting in an exceptionally refined work.
If you listen to the original song first and then play it, your performance image will become much clearer!
Liebesträume No. 2: ‘I Am Dead’Franz Liszt
When it comes to Franz Liszt’s Liebesträume, No.
3—set to Ferdinand Freiligrath’s poem “O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst”—is the famous one.
But No.
2, “Ich bin gestorben,” set to a poem by the German poet Ludwig Uhland, is also a stunning hidden gem.
Unlike the flowing No.
3, No.
2 unfolds as if savoring heartfelt emotion—this is its distinctive character.
Because you must play with awareness of the resonance of each individual note, following the notes themselves is relatively easy, but there is a demanding difficulty in that nothing can be glossed over.
Cradle Song, S.174, R.57Franz Liszt
When people think of Franz Liszt, many imagine passionate, romantic music and pieces of superhuman virtuosity.
However, his Lullaby, S.174 R.57, while retaining Liszt’s characteristic sweetness, is entirely devoid of intensity and unfolds gently from start to finish—a beautiful work that seems to guide you into a comfortable sleep.
The note count is modest and the score is easy to read, but to maintain the calm flow and play smoothly, precise control of the fingertips is essential.
With proper hand form, cherish each and every note as you play.
[Lower Difficulty] Recommended Piano Pieces by Franz Liszt [Intermediate] (21–30)
Romance S.169Franz Liszt
Romance, S.169, which Franz Liszt is said to have composed during a visit to Moscow.
Though it doesn’t use many notes, it’s quintessentially Liszt—combining romanticism, calm, and intensity—traits of a leading composer of the Romantic era.
Some may think, “I’ve never heard Liszt’s Romance,” but in fact it’s often programmed in concerts and is a favorite among piano enthusiasts.
Before tackling Liszt’s large-scale works, it’s a great piece to experience his world.