Transcendental Etude No. 5 (Liszt)
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- For the natural phenomenon of 'ghostly lights' see Will-o'-the-wisp.
Transcendental Etude No. 5 in B-flat "Feux Follets" (Will o' the Wisp) is the fifth etude of the set of twelve Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt. Feux Follets is one of the most difficult works written for piano. It employs many pianistic devices, rapid double-notes in the right hand foremost among them. Despite the mechanical difficulties of the work, its greatest challenge lies in doing justice to its whimsical and mysterious character. Pianissimo markings abound in the double note sections, countering the pianist's intuition (and desire) to play them loudly. Feux Follets is considered one of the great achievements in the pianistic canon.[citation needed]
[edit] Difficulties
In the beginning of the etude, the performer is presented with a strange set of acute figures climbing high on the keyboard, accompanied by arpeggiated figures of the left hand, then climbing down. Then a rapidly descending set of double notes and cramped spacing begins, made difficult by the leggiero and pp markings. The main theme is introduced and is offset by another set of rapidly descending set of doublenotes. The main theme is elaborated upon, and a repeating set of acute figures begins. The strange set of figures at the beginning is later repeated in the left hand. The piece ends in several light arpeggios, and arpeggiated chords.
[edit] External links
- Transcendental Etudes was available at the International Music Score Library Project.
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