Sorry, I can't agree at all. This sentence is too simple! The truth is: Liszt was born in Raiding, which is in Austria. The time he was born Raiding was a part of the Hungarian kingdom, a German cultured village close to the Austrian border (which was no real border, just like the border between England and Scotland; Nebraska and Kansas or Bavaria and Hessen). His parents were Austrian, his mother Barbara Schlesak was from Krems, lower Austria, and his father Adam Liszt from Edelsthal. They all spoke German, never Hungarian, Liszt didn't know to speak Hungarian. When he became old, he learned Hungarian with difficulty, but was never able to speak the language fluently. He liked to call himself "Hungarian" on a whim, but he was only Hungarian by birthplace, never by culture. From his culture, upbringing, ancestry, Liszt was Austrian, and his native language was also Austrian / German. He received his musical education primarily in Austria (Vienna) and from Austrians (Adam Liszt, Carl Czerny, Anton Reicha), later in Paris, France. His music is never Hungarian, (but it has Hungarian, Austrian, German, French and Italian influences). His first contact to Hungary and Hungarian culture was as an adult, when he came to Budapest to give a concert. And Chopin was half a French, his father Nicolas came from Lothringen, (today in France) became a citizen of Poland and brought the french culture into the family. Chopins mother Justyna Krzyzanovsky was polish, and Chopins music includes both parts: french and polish, with italian influences (Chopin admired Bellini and Donizetti) and Austrian elements (waltzes). It was funny that Chopin never knew the french language perfectly, though his father came from Lothringen and Chopin lived half of his life in France.
All Chopin needed to move your deepest emotions and make you feel feelings you didn’t know existed, was a piano. That’s how great he is. That’s why musicians around ages and throughout time regard him as the continuity of Mozart.
A think Liszt's unplayable stuff is unplayable because it's nonsensical garbage. Did he know what a key signature was? Seriously a chimpanzee could have written some of that shit, though some of his stuff is really good, so he must have known at least something about music.
I love so many different styles of music from metal to classical. But Chopin’s music is what moves me the most. I absolutely love EVERY NOTE of Polonaise Heroic in Ab. It’s perfection.
From a person who doesn't study classical music. Just an ordinary listener who enjoyed listening to these great musicians. I vote for Liszt. I don't know why but Liszt and Mozart's music makes me want to listen to them more and repeatedly compared to the others. If you gave me an explanation why the others were better, I won't understand because I just prefer what I prefer and that's the same with the others, at least I think. Not everyone will study and understand music. Some just wanted to enjoy it without having any thoughts about the interpretations, theories, etc.
Master ! You're Videos are so awesome and so inspiring , I'm living in Egypt , in a poor neighborhood , Where You cannot even taste the meaning of the art of Music , You did make Me work and buy a piano to play some of those beautiful pieces , and try to apply the Technics You teach Us at Yours , anyhow , Thank You for being Here :) .
if it comes to Chopin you have to be aware that it wasn't Paris to form him as a pianist, it was Poland, its villages, landscapes and culture what inspired him (sorry for my English)
Chopin was indeed formed in Poland that's for sure, but he would've never ever become such an artist without France. France gave him all he needed to become the master he is and develop his art.
@@logannslm1593 I mean what did France gave him except from place to live in and and asylum to flee from war in Poland. Little known fact Chopin wanted to run away to Italy in the first place but it was impossible due to some issues
Great video! Liszt's life and career spanned the late Classical, entire Romantic and early Modern music eras. So for that reason, it's hard to pin him down. For instance, while he wrote the famous Hungarian Rhapsodies in the prime of his life, he also wrote the highly original, stark and modern Nuages Gris as an elderly man. He has always been my favorite composer.
Ranggalih isn't burried is preserved in church. Interesting fact the guy who saved his heart was German nazi with polish roots he was responsible for destroying polish wwll Warsaw uprising & Warsaw itself but saved Chopin heart... Hehehe
I absolutely, deeply, hugely love and adore everything Chopin. I like some of Liszt works, especially Mazeppa, but apart from Chopin, my favorite piano composers are Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Medtner, Schumann, Brahms, Beethoven, Debussy and Duke Ellington. I like things that totally, mysteriously hit my heart like they’re killing me, those things are more than music, they totally make you forget the technique and virtuosity of it all, they’re just pure emotion. With Liszt, it’s too often about technique and skills, IMHO. I sometimes imagine Chopin writing Etude op 25/12 for instance, telling himself “I’ll tell my piano the things I used to tell you, hear the fire in my chest, see how it’s consuming everything, destroying me” Then I imagine Liszt before writing a stunning piece, telling himself “let’s show these people how good I am”... I know I’m overdoing this, but I think when it comes to Chopin, nothing compares
Mazeppa is in my Liszt's top 5 too along with Totentanz, Feux Follets, HR2 and Paganini etude 6, and I mostly listen to him, but I also love Chopin's and Scriabin's pieces.
Chopin is so endlessly more subtle and lovely --- but Liszt can be SO deeply sad/tragic/rooted/folk where Chopin never went. Thank God I do not have to choose and no-one has to choose.
especially op 48 #1 and 72 #1. 72 doesn't get enough attention, but it's one of the deepest and darkest things I've ever heard. I think too many people are judging these great composers based in this short video alone.
Well, if "folk" means rooted in folk music tradition, than you need not to look enywhere else than mazurkas, which were based on Polish folk dancec, and a form than no one before Chopin used in classical music
I would have to go with Chopin. His music made me feel things that aren't able to be put in the English Language, it was a new emotion. I never had this with anyone. Sure, bach is the greatest composer that ever lived, we can all agree. And it was perfect in every way. But Chopin... You fucking genius, you made me feel things, your music will always be number one for me. Until the day I die, it will be Bach started the music, and you perfected it. Big fucking love for you.
Léon Ruhe You need to go and learm French, read Lamartine's poetry and appreciate how Liszt TRANSCENDED the boudary between music and poetry in his works such as Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude.
Chopin was a master of his instrument, the real poet as Horowitz stated, but as a musician he was incomplete. His powers of orchestration were very limited. On the other side, Liszt was a master of transcription and variations through technique. As a composer he was very weak, as he would make Schumann yawn at the première of his Sonata.
In a few minutes it's impossible to do more than this simplistic presentation which showcases the best of Chopin versus Rhapsody #6 which is one of Liszt's most unidimensional works. I enjoy both composers, and they were both geniuses in their different ways. Rhapsody #9 for example, is far more colorful. Some of the later work, such as transcription of Gounod's Faust, are just as original and amazing as was anything by Chopin.
When the quarantine started, I devoted myself to listen to all the major piano pieces that Liszt composed. That's when I discovered "Harmonies poetiques et religieuses" and I must say that it's probably the most mature work for the piano that Liszt ever composed, maybe only surpassed by Anness de pelerinage. The "mature" period of Liszt composition style is truly amazing. But if I had to choose between him and Chopin... I'd choose Chopin. 😁
They often only show Liszt in the pop star virtuosic light, but never understand the depth of Liszts serious composition. Try giving Liszt sonata a try, or his later religious works.
I am glad you point out that your points can be proven opposite in many other examples. Like you said, its a lot of output to be consolidated into two examples. Another important difference I think is the fact that much of Liszt's music is programmatic and big in the Romantic tradition whereas Chopin's is almost 100% absolute and quite Classical in stylistic philosophy and refinement (but not in harmonic language or Pianistic pyrotechnics however)
I'm sorry to say but this is comparing apples and oranges ... if you want to compare the 6th Hungarian Rhapsodie to a piece by Chopin, the first thing that comes to mind is the Opus 53 Polonaise, but there are still others that capture a similar feel. Liszt also didn't only write showpieces, he wrote at least 700 pieces/arrangements, etc. of which some of those pieces consist of many subparts that are basically seperate compositions but fit together like a modern musical album would. Most of his compositions aren't at all that showman like or even remotely unplayable ... but very emotional and fragile ... tough to play, sure, but also very lyrical. Since I've started researching Liszt more and more he has taken my personal top one spot of composers together with Chopin rather than be below Chopin In terms of emotional content. Also his comparison goes for multiple pieces by Chopin whilst only comparing them to that same Rhapsodie ... how unfair is that ... This guy or channel apparantly really doesn't know much about Liszt and his compositions because if this is all he has for comparison he hasn't even scratched 1/700th of the repertoire (possibly about a thousand if you would seperate pieces like Vallee d'Oberman from the rest of the Annees, etc.). Maybe listen to pieces like Sancta Dorothea, Nuages Gris, the whole of the Annees, his pieces on st. Francis of Assisi, etc. Or his transcriptions like "Auf dem wasser zu singen", Erlkonig, and others before you make comparisons that don't even fit well ...
Liszt wasn't just a showman. Why does everyone take that narrow minded view of him? He was also a great proponent of the new German school of music and greatly influenced Wagner. And while you were talking about lyricism why did you not pick the slow section of the B minor sonata from Liszt? Chopin ballade and waltz were good selections but you only chose one from Liszt thereby doing him an injustice. Also, the Hungarian rhapsodies were hardly serious music. They were written as a mere fancy.
Or the 10th transcendantal Etude ? Or the 3 concert Etudes (with Un sospiro, la leggerezzia ...) ? Or the Consolations ? The video is beyond stereotype ...
@@darkhafgor Nah, Chopin has a better catalog overall, but Liszt has better and more impactful pieces, for example, sonata in b minor is better than anything Chopin can even imagine composing.
According to Chopin's pupil, Karol Mikuli: "Chopin was adamant about maintaining the tempo, and many will be surprised that he never took the metronome down the piano. Even during his largely traduced tempo rubato, there was always one hand, the accompanying one, maintaining strict tempo, while the other one was singing, either indecisively hesitating, or like in a passionate conversation, with a certain impatient ferocity, cutting in ahead of time, more emotional, liberating the truth of musical expression from all rythmic chains"
Chopin was the creative genius who told the world "Listen to my musical ideas". Liszt was the executant genius who told the world "Listen to ME play musical ideas".
Actually, Lizt made much more piano songs. He was also famous because he was one of the best piano players to ever exist. But, still, he composed more than 1000 songs. No Wonder, his life was twice the lenght of Chopin.
But don't forget that Liszt wasn't just a pianist... he wrote a shit ton of groundbreaking orchestral music, influencing composers like Wagner, Richard Strauss and Dvorak
Luigi Mario Athletically, Liszt was a better piano player but both were the best of their time. In terms of compositions, namely piano pieces, I believe Chopin's genius trumps Liszt. I love them both but very different reasons. To me personally, I think Chopin was the best composer specifically for piano pieces.
as many have said, only the performer will understand the emotional depth and genius of liszt's composition. chopin will often win the public's love as his music is more "melodious".
This comment doesn't really have much depth. Both statements are true for pretty much all Romantic composers. The popular works with good melodies usually win over the general public, but all the greats do have their deep works that only music enthusiasts and performers will appreciate. The public doesn't appreciate the 4th Ballade, Polonaise-Fantaisie, or the 3rd Sonata, yet they are some of Chopin's greatest works. So again, your comment is pretty worthless.
While it is genius, I see no emotional depth in most of his music at all. Chopin was clearly the superior composer, not because they are more melodious
@@darkhafgor there are more than one type of genius, Liszt was clearly a man of mathematics, while chopin was more on the manner of the heart, both good in their own right.
Such a difficult subject. Those of us who know and love both composers, know that their sounds are very different. But that comes from our listening and playing experiences. To explain in words is very hard. Well done!
no he was from earth, he was born in "Żelazowa Wola, 46 kilometres (29 miles) west of Warsaw, in what was then the Duchy of Warsaw, a Polish state established by Napoleon." taken from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Chopin#Childhood
I return very often to the annees de pelerinage and the consolations. I also love some late works aswell as the piano sonata of course. If you don't think those pieces are poetic I don't know what is. For me personally chopin doesn't really have that many pieces I like to come back to but after all its just my personal taste.
First off, both composers were geniuses. And yes, a good overall comparison is that Chopin was more effeminate while Liszt was more masculine. However, quite sadly, most people only know a handful of pieces by Liszt, and many of those being his dazzling showpieces. The Hungarian Rhapsodies being such an example, as used here, which is not only unfair but unfortunate since this is what helps to misinform the masses. One only needs to listen to 'Au lac de Wallenstadt' or the intro to Liszt’s Piano Concerto No.2 to see the workings of a tender, dreamy artist. More importantly, those that say Chopin was more original certainly have no idea of the far greater influence Liszt had upon the course of music and music history. One only needs to listen to his pioneering Faust and Dante symphonies to see the pinnacles of the Romantic era, while Liszt’s late pieces set the seeds for the Impressionistic works of Debussy, the Atonal works of Schoenberg, while his paraphrases helped to spawn even the basic improvisational elements of Jazz. So, while Chopin certainly wrote works of great beauty and charm, Liszt was the pioneer that spawned numerous other musical genres and was far more influential and versatile, writing works that were raw, brutal, dazzling, yet also romantically tender, triumphant, transcending, mystical, and spiritual as his oratorios and masses attest. In essence, Chopin was a delicate earthly flower, a beauty to behold that is easy to please the masses and be savored, while Liszt was a Promethean thunderstorm that opened up the heavens and brought divine light upon the earth, from sheer radiant beauty to pioneering pyrotechnics to even reminding mankind of the tempestuous terrors of Hell. For more info google the Franz Liszt Site
Liszt was hungarian yes, yet his hungarian Rapsodies for example, were by many hungarians considered as gypsy music, not hungarian- and Liszt only lived in Hungary for a small portion of his life after all (later Paris, Rome, Weimar etc.).
As for Chopin, he wasn't stuck in Paris, he wrote the Préludes in Mallorca. And, unlike the video is explaining, he wasn't only about a "French style", otherwise he wouldn't have written Mazurkas and Polonaises ...
We tend to forget when these "classical" pieces were composed, they were contemporary music for their audiences. In that vein, with which contemporary composers can we compare these two men? Any suggestions?
Liszt gave praise very generously because he was a nice guy, but he never saw himself inferior to Chopin, because he just wasn't. I have yet to see Chopin write anything as enigmatically transcendent as Liszt's Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude.
If I am able to play something in a way closed to these brilliant pieces I think that will be great. And now I should say that I really have to listen more to Chopin to train my ear to hear great music
HOROWITZ once said that CHOPIN was the greatest piano composer of all time because unlike many other great composers. he really " understood the piano "...meaning he understood it and made it do things like no other composer could, even LISZT. No other composition makes this more obvious than CHOPIN'S so called OCEAN ETUDE where the composition makes the piano sound like rolling waves with a beautiful melody pervading the entire piece.
I love where in the beginning of some of Liszt's sonatas he lulls you into a false sense of serenity, quiet peacefulness, and relaxation and then explodes into a massive display of fireworks where the pianist gets to show off his or her technical prowess and pianistic chops ( depending upon of course, they have them).
Why choose one over the other ? They are both great composers and i love them both for what they bring to the table ! Strangely enough my appreciation for these masters grew through time ...a bit of an acquired taste but they have aged well in my heart and soul !
Although Chopin's music is more popular, Liszt had a greater impact on the music of his century. He was instrumental in establishing musical romanticism, but he also helped bail out a great many composers including Wagner and Berlioz and many others. He was an extremely generous man who played many charity concerts. He put together a fundraiser for a statue of Beethoven and played Ludwig's Piano Concerto No. 5 at a charity concert for it. He taught and helped countless young pianists all over Europe. Liszt was a great pianist, a great composer and a great human being.
There is a pub in Kent (southern England) called "The Brahms and Liszt".( Explanation for Americans: It is cockney rhyming slang for "pissed", which in England means "drunk".)
Although my favourite piano piece is Listz Hungarian Rhapsody #2 I like Chopin better overall. I can listen to his etudes and nocturnes repeatedly and never get bored. His pieces brings out emotion and melodies like no other. He makes the piano sing.
This lifelong pianist/composer loves both of them. Actually, Chopin was half French...his paternal side. People have a tendency to forget that. Their gorgeous music is immortal~ and viva la differences as well as the similarities!!
I'm a Liszt just because his music is my type, extremely hard but a enjoyable experience for me like when I play la campanella, the jumping rythm is hard but it's music to my ears.
This is a difficult argument/comparison when familiar with most of the output of both Masters. My opinion is to treat them as complete individuals and accept their own musical language and thinking as composers and pianists
It’s kinda unfair to compare these 2 geniuses, because Chopin is so beautiful and lyrical same with Liszt, and Chopin Just has this feeling that you can’t describe, but yet, same with Liszt, his music is so different and unique, he can make stupidly difficult pieces sound so incredibly beautiful and that’s a skill in its own. I think they are both equal in my eyes
