Franz Liszt Popular Song Ranking [2026]

Impromptu Waltz (Valse-Impromptu), S.213Franz Liszt78rank/position

Liszt – Valse Impromptu (Cziffra)

A short piece notable for its improvisational waltz.

At roughly five minutes, it is relatively brief and less well-known than other piano works, but its accessible, elegant character has made it a favorite among many pianists celebrated as virtuosos.

Years of Pilgrimage, First Year: “Switzerland”Franz Liszt79rank/position

List: Années de pèlerinage, First Year 'Switzerland' S.160, Lazar Berman

Liszt, who had an illicit love affair with a married woman, fled with her to Switzerland.

This work is a collection of pieces composed in various places as a memento of that time.

It consists of six pieces: 1.

The Chapel of William Tell / 2.

At the Lake of Wallenstadt / 3.

Pastoral / 4.

By the Spring / 5.

Storm / 6.

The Valley of Obermann.

Years of Pilgrimage, Year 1: Switzerland, No. 1 “The Chapel of William Tell”Franz Liszt80rank/position

Franz Liszt – Chapelle de Guillaume Tell (from Années de Pèlerinage I: Suisse)

The first piece that opens the collection published in June 1855, inspired by travels in Switzerland.

It is a symbolic work praising a founding-legend hero, featuring a grand design that moves from a solemn depiction of a quiet chapel interior to a leap toward heroic action.

In performance, it is important to skillfully evoke the effect of a horn echoing through the mountains by means of weighty chordal sonorities and delicate tremolos.

Unlike a flashy, highly virtuosic showpiece, this is a work you can savor by lingering over the depth of each note and the shifting harmonies as you play.

It is recommended for those who wish to let a rich tone resound at their own pace while imagining the majestic natural landscapes and the powerful figure of the hero that Franz Liszt depicts.

Years of Pilgrimage, First Year: Switzerland, No. 9 “The Bells of Geneva”Franz Liszt81rank/position

Liszt, Années de pèlerinage, I. Suisse – 9. Les Cloches de Genève

A beautifully drawn nocturne that captures the quiet afterglow felt at the journey’s end, it closes the album “Années de pèlerinage, Première année: Suisse.” It is grounded in experiences from a stay beginning in 1835 and has a history of repeated revisions before its publication in 1855.

The distant tolling of bells in the night’s stillness and the calm atmosphere by the water are exquisitely expressed through gentle harmonies and a singing melody.

Rather than dazzling technique, this work calls for delicate control of sonority.

Careful pedal use to produce a clear, transparent tone without muddiness is key.

It is an ideal piece for those who wish to linger over soothing, poetic lines rather than tackle turbulent passages.

Years of Pilgrimage, Second Year: Italy — After Reading DanteFranz Liszt82rank/position

Liszt : Après une lecture de Dante par Alexandre Kantorow (Années de pèlerinage)

First drafted in 1849, this work draws inspiration from Dante’s Divine Comedy.

From the outset, a scale progression featuring dissonances is employed, evoking the atmosphere of the abyss of Hell.

From the middle to the latter sections, beautiful melodies and dramatic developments are inserted, as if symbolizing the hope and light of Purgatory and Heaven, imparting sweeping dramatic contours to the entire piece.

Demanding advanced technique, this work is a showcase for the pianist’s skill: one must convey storm-like, intense emotions while naturally shaping the flow toward tranquility.

Forgotten Waltz No. 1Franz Liszt83rank/position

Forgotten Waltz No. 1 (Liszt) — Valse oubliée No. 1 (Liszt)

A jewel-like miniature left by 19th-century master Franz Liszt.

Composed in July 1881 during his later years, Liszt—also renowned as a Hungarian-born virtuoso pianist—crafted this roughly three-minute piece in which graceful melodies intertwine with bold harmonies, distilling his mature musical voice.

Its floating sonorities are exquisitely balanced with elements of a conventional waltz, evoking nostalgia for a bygone era.

With a difficulty level approachable for intermediate pianists, it serves as an excellent gateway into Liszt’s world.

Liebesträume No. 3: ‘O Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst’ S.541 / R.211Franz Liszt84rank/position

Liszt / Liebesträume – Three Nocturnes No. 3 “O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst”

A three-piece piano work subtitled “Three Nocturnes.” The third piece is particularly famous and is a popular work often performed on its own.

It was originally composed as a song set to a poem by the German poet Freiligrath and later arranged for solo piano.

Its graceful, shimmering melody leaves a lasting impression.