![[Lower Difficulty] Recommended Piano Pieces by Franz Liszt [Intermediate]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/f3zMfwwlJzw/maxresdefault.webp)
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!
- Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
- [Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
- [For Advanced Players] A Curated Selection of Classical Masterpieces to Tackle at Piano Recitals
- [Beginner-Friendly] Rachmaninoff’s Piano Pieces | A Curated Selection of Accessible Works!
- [Highest Difficulty] A selection of challenging pieces crafted by Liszt, the magician of the piano
- [For Adults] Recommended for Piano Recitals! A Curated Selection of Impressively Sounding Masterpieces
- [Intermediate Level] A curated selection of piano masterpieces featuring strikingly brilliant melodies!
- Beginner to Intermediate: Chopin pieces with relatively low difficulty. Recommended works by Chopin.
- Brahms Piano Pieces | A Curated Selection of Easier, Beginner-Friendly Works
- Lower difficulty: Not as hard as it sounds!? Debussy’s piano pieces
- [For Elementary School Students] Brilliant, Showy Masterpieces That Sound Impressive at Piano Recitals
- [For Intermediate Players] Challenge Yourself! Recommended Masterpieces That Shine at Piano Recitals
- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
[Low difficulty] Recommended Piano Pieces by Franz Liszt [Intermediate] (1–10)
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.
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!
Franz Liszt: Liebestraum 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.
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.
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.
Romance S.169Franz Liszt
Romance, S.169, which is said to have been composed when Franz Liszt visited Moscow.
Though it doesn’t use many notes, it blends elements of romanticism, calm, and intensity—making it a characteristically Lisztian work by a leading composer of the Romantic era.
Some might think, “I’ve never heard of a Liszt ‘Romance,’” but in fact it’s frequently programmed in concerts and is very popular among piano enthusiasts.
Before tackling Liszt’s large-scale masterpieces, I recommend experiencing his world through this piece!
Consolation No. 3Franz Liszt
Among the six pieces in Franz Liszt’s piano collection Consolations—whose title means “comfort”—No.
3 is said to be the most popular.
Its endlessly gentle, flowing melody creates a sense that one’s heart is being purified as one listens; it is a remarkably beautiful work.
Within Liszt’s oeuvre, it is relatively approachable, and many people feel, upon looking at the score, “I might be able to play this!” However, simply stringing the notes together will not convey the true charm of this piece.
To achieve a sparkling sound, be meticulous about tone quality and resonance.