How Studying Liszt Transformed My Understanding of Music 

As a hardcore Lisztomaniac, this video has made my night. I've been reading so many books about Liszt. The more I read, the more fascinated I am. Liszt is so complex he cannot be reduced to a few aspects: he is fractally complex, an extraordinary matrix of music and intellect. Génie oblige!

Binging these videos, she's shown me how much better I can be and how to improve in ways I never thought possible

I really appreciate all the guys trying to speak as much English as possible, that's not always the case in Germany Oh and greetings from Germany, love your videos, keep up the great work

Nahre - Do more stuff like this. Suddenly these dusty old composers have the youthful romanicism back, the heady continental nights, the smell of candles, roses and wine!

Since I discovered this channel just two months ago, it has become my favourite youtube channel - by far! Even motivated me to finally buy that new piano I had been dreaming about for so long, and start playing seriously again... I couldn't be happier! So for that, from the bottom of my heart: thank you!

Thank you so much for this beautiful video❤️ Liszt holds a special place in my heart. He’s easily the most maligned, misunderstood, misrepresented composer of the 19th century. It angers me. I get very defensive and protective about him because I love him so much. People also seem to forget this is the same man who penned the Faust Symphony. His insane magnanimity towards other musicians nurtured entire generations of pedagogues, composers, performers, and conductors. I encountered Liszt and all of his brilliance through the windows of others lives including George Sand, George Eliot, Chopin, and Emperor Joseph I. Liszt’s life was so full of wonder, excitement, and adventure! It’s impossible not to be captivated by his presence. I can feel it even now when I listen to his music or read his letters. The anecdotes are all the same: When he would appear he was like he was a fallen angel. He was a splash of color in their lives and when he left, every went back to being black and white. And boring.....Liszt was a lot of things but he certainly wasn’t boring or dull. Here are the last two paragraphs from an essay I wrote about the Faust Symphony for school: “In her musical play, Ordo virtutem, Hildegard of Bingen tells the story of Satan’s schism from holy song; Hildegard maintained that sacred psalms and canticles are humanity's closest connection to the divine. Akin to the fate of the giant Nimrod in Dante’s Divine Comedy (Canto 31 Nimrod has one indecipherable line “Raphèl mai amècche zabì almi") the devil is reduced to unintelligible screeches. This linguistic impairment underscores their estrangement from the providence of the sacred. From the outset, both figures are punished for coveting an avaricious existential yearning in which God strips both figures of language. Within a theological context, language and song was created by God to commune with the divine. Depriving creatures of language precludes them from obtaining salvation. Creation is reserved for the divine. Mephistopheles being an agent of negation can only resort to tricksterism, besieging Faust with a carnival of sinister parodies. Basking in this ontological nullification, Faust seeks redemption from the purity of Gretchen’s love. In a sense, Mephistopheles was correct in surmising that he was part of the darkness that preceded the birth of light, for within the darkness, Faust finds celestial atonement and transcends his suffering. Goethe’s Faust fictionalizes historical characters and historicizes fictional characters, weaving them together until we can no longer tell which is which. Not unlike Faust, Liszt experienced transfigurative suffering. Consequently, Liszt cultivated a profound desire for the divine and the sacred yet was bound by earthly temptations. Like a moth circling a flame, beckoning the light, but trepidatious of being devoured by fire. These metaphysical dichotomies abound throughout his life as he endured inconsolable despairing episodes reminiscent of the biblical story of Job, losing his children and other loved ones, his marriage, his post at Weimar, as well as other colleagues. Liszt endured scathing criticism as a composer during his life but persevered with the faith that his compositions would be appreciated posthumously. His faith was not misplaced.”

I am a simple man. When I see liszt I click.

I recently turned 12 and Nahre is such an inspiration for me as a student musician. I'm currently doing the RCM program (its a level ranking system thing) and am at ARCT. Although I'm pretty decent at playing, history, harmony, and music analysis, my understanding of music is still nothing compared to you. I absolutely love your videos, keep doing what you do and stay awesome

Thanks for sharing your journey! It made me think about a somewhat similar trip I made in my youth to Saltzburg, to Mozart’s home museum. I set off the alarm by touching his hammer piano 🙈

What a beautiful video, I'm a big fan of Liszt and seeing such things like the piano he used to play it's a whole experience that words cannot express. Thank you Nahre!

I strongly disliked Liszt until I started studying his music seriously, I thought his music was a bunch of incoherent passages and strange harmonies without any musical content. This is mostly a result of a typical pianist's education that is founded upon the shoulders of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin. Liszt was trying to do something else purposefully. You need to understand the background behind his music, his role as a revolutionary in both pianism and composition. At some point I realised that he single-handedly changed the course of history in a positive way. You can still dislike his pieces but in a way that one can dislike any piece for that matter. The truth remains, Liszt was the first person to have treated the piano as a device that could created tone paintings and therefore express programmatic content. That is mostly his achievement in a nutshell.

I had the same experience of learning Math history. When I was a student, I thought there was a fixed Canon of Math which just happened. But to learn the many interactions of Mathemeticians over the ages and how the development of Math techniques were influenced by so many other historical events really changed my understanding of the subject. PS I have placed in my will that if you ever visit my house at some future date the occupants are supposed to let you play my piano too!

The part where you played the very piano Liszt sat at really has sent shivers down my spine! Thank you for highlighting once again how much the context matters when perceiving a piece of music (or any art, for that matter).

I listen to ABC Classic radio station in my car and sometimes at home and they often talk about the history of a piece or the composer. It really does give you a different appreciation of music. How were they feeling when they wrote it? Was the composer struggling? Who did they interact with? How were they regarded at the time?

That long-haired guy’s little “also“s while trying to speak english is so heartwarming :)

I really liked Liszt for his flashy virtuosic yet musical pieces, and very detailed transcriptions, but it's mind blowing to hear the story behind it

There's an indescribable pleasure on discovering the human side of music...

So great how excited and passionate everyone here is about Liszt and his music. It really shines through.

Imagine a recording of Liszt performing one of his works was available today.

Having joined the Liszt Society, he is now on the liszt

Historically, I think there is a direct connection between Franz Schubert and Franz Liszt, and then from Franz Liszt to Béla Bartók. The latter two are of course especially fondly remembered (and virtually worshiped) in Hungary, and when traveling in Budapest three decades ago, even as a non-musician (but one who loves music) I could feel the presence of these wonderful composers. Just as Jazz and Blues has a characteristically American Sound and influence that has its roots in Africa, many of those 19th century classical composers have a rhythm and sound that is undeniably 'Magyar' (or Hungarian) in origin. Since you are still young, Nahre, I am sure you will have many more opportunities to travel, and I think you would be amazed at the way Hungarians cherish these composers even today. - j q t -

I am warming up to Liszt because of how he mentored Alexander Borodin. Borodin took the occasion of escorting some of his students to Germany to make a special stop to visit Liszt, who apparently treated Borodin like a King.

When that man allowed you to play the piano I was literally in awe

I'm glad Liszt gets the more widespread recognition for his ingenuity; truly a pioneer of the pianoforte, an avant-gardist, a master of the musical form and freeing it from its bounds and set rules. Truly a brilliant man, virtuoso and friar; ahead of its time, his innovations and genius deserves to be more known!

I dont know music theory, i dont play piano. But Liszt is one of my favourites composers because he creates emotion in such a subtle way, he makes the piano disappear and the music becomes an environment and a story emerges.

I've been to Weimar and I absolutely loved it - so much culture in this little town and of course I went to Liszt's house which was so interesting and when I walked past the Franz Liszt Hochschule I heard great piano playing coming out of so many windows.

Before I started Learning Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 I was not a fan, now he is one of my favorite composers

I didn't even see a second of the video and I already know it's going to be great

I’m surprised how moving this actually was. Seeing the manuscripts and other artifacts like that and getting to sit at one of his own pianos.. incredible. I can only imagine what it must have been like for you.

omg a new Nahre Sol video! I feel invigorated already

The feeling when the only thing the teacher told us about him in music studies was that he was a contemporary of Chopin and a great showman who composed Hungarian rhapsody no. 2. This was the only thing I knew about him until recently. And I'm not alone...😢 Poor Ferenc.

I completely agree with Nahre Sol: music is enjoyable without knowledge but if we learn more about the composer, and the era that could give us a completely new horizon about the composition. And learning is fun also.

I appreciate your work and respect for Liszt. My love and regard for Liszt has been with me all my life. My 96 year old mother as a young girl studied piano with one of Liszt last students.

He was the most photographed figure of the 19th century and literally a virtuoso, composer, friar, philanthropist, scholar, teacher... and more. Highly recommend reading Alan Walker's biography about (imo) the most interesting figure in all of Western classical music.

Touching the piano once played by Franz Liszt is like toching God.

When a performer knows a lot about the context of the music he is performing, it brings depth and exudes confidence to the listener that this artist is authentic and that the music being played is worthy of his attention, regardless of its familiarity or lack there of in popular culture. A close-up view of the detail and detritus of the actual lives of the people who wrote the music we admire is inherently interesting and rewarding in ways a superficial overview will seldom be.

No way what a beautiful moment getting invited to play the instrument. wow i have tears in my eyes... so precious thank you for sharing

This video has such passionate energy. I loved seeing everyone being so excited.

I could spend my whole day watching Nahre's videos. What a great entertainer and teacher she is!

Liszt got me into classical music and music history which is what I live and breath man. Couldn't appreciate him more and it always makes me happy when I see people realizing that he was so much more than an insanely difficult gimmick composer

Nahre, this video is absolutely thrilling! Sharing your trip to Weimar was totally unexpected. I am a huge fan of Liszt, and have played his works throughout my long life, or at least attempted to. Seeing you in his rooms caused my heart to beat rapidly. I've been to locations where other composers lived and worked (Chopin, Mozart, etc.), but never Ferenc! I look forward to viewing many of your videos now. Very best wishes from Elliott in Manhattan!

Liszt is such a great composer and virtuoso pianist, His 2nd ballade, The sonata in B minor, Scherzo und marsch, The hungarian rhapsodies,Liebestraumes and the Transcendental etudes made me love his music automatically just by listening to them for the first time, If only we could have someone today like him.

As a physicist, I have found much the same value in studying the history of science and mathematics. I completely agree with what you said: you don't need it, but it brings so much more depth and appreciation when you understand the context of the refined products that remain today.

Thank you Nahre...very inspiring experience you have shared with your viewers. I have nearly finished the 2nd Book from Professor Alan Walker, The Weimar Years. Have also enjoyed David Dubal early lecture from 1984 interviewing Alan Walker after publishing his first Bood, The Virtuoso Years. Also of interest if you Google Alan Walker lecture at the Library of Congress, to name one..there are others with David Dubal, director of the Juilliard School of Music. Liszt is so instrumental to the true development of music. Thank you again...felt like I was there again in Liszt house in Weimar. Rev. T. W.

Great video Nahre, thank you for sharing!

Thank you for a very interesting video. Liszt was tremendously influential as a composer and pianist, but he was also a very generous, kind, and funny teacher, as we learn from Amy Fay’s Music Study in Germany. I think you would enjoy reading it.

What a treat for you!!! I love all these in depth studies and “how to sound like” videos. They are music to my ears. I look forward to your videos!! Thank you for your curiosity!!

Congrats Nahre! In my humble opinion this is one of the very best videos you have made. Brilliant editing. I love it. Thank you. 👍🏼👏👏👏😊❤

As a student, I wish I had a teacher like Nahre--for any subject.

Can I just say thank you for all the videos that you make. I am always so intrigued by how composers compose their pieces. Your videos serve as a great inspiration for me.

Thank you for creating this outstanding video! Brilliant work! How awesome for you to be able to play on his piano, see his manuscripts, personal letters, and human part of his life as a composer. I now have an added perspective of Liszt which will help in my interpretation of his music.

9:46 might dispute that and say it's mostly Clara, I think Robert only took issue on a personal level later on and not musically

Many thanks, Nahre Sol for a beautiful testament -- from a lover and student of Franz Lizst's life and music.

Thank you so much for all the depth you bring to the appreciation of music! Absolutely LOVE your "how to sound like" series. And this adds a great personal touch to one of the greatest!

Fascinating! Liszt's pieces are some of my favourite pieces to (try and) play on the piano. So rich and expressive...

this is freaking awesome.

Hi Nahre, Many thanks for sharing this beautiful musical crusade. And as you state in the end, this will surely reflect (even more) when playing his compositions from now on. Love your videos and hope to see/ listen to you one day in the Netherlands 😉

Fantastic Ep., Nahre. Thank you for doing this research and sharing with us!!

Very fascinating video, thank you for taking us with you on your journey! The part when you sat down at Liszt's piano had me on the edge of my seat. I could feel the tension in the room. An amazing experience, even just from watching you

I adore the enthusiasm here. Thank you

I'm humbled, I'm fortunate. I thank you Nahre for sharing your experiences with us. Thank you...

Your videos are incredible and you are such a talented musician. Thank you for sharing 🙏

What an amazing experience! Thank you so much for capturing it, editing it down to a captivating video and sharing with us!! ❤️👍

I love this video as a whole and I love you for making it! I think your contributions, editing, the content and guests you brought on were so marvelous. I'm so happy you made this.

appreciate these incredible videos, they are so informative and genuinely well made. teaching me more than school has taught in me in a passionate, honest and genuine way. thanks again, Nahre

RU-vid recommended this to me. Even though I don't understand anything about any of these composers and this kind of music in general but seeing how happy you are about knowing more about their history makes me feel some things. Your passion towards knowing more amazes me. It feels like I wish to be passionate like that towards the things I love.

What a wonderful mini documentary! It brought me back to my university years when studying Ethnomusicology and Music history. In current times of closed (or semi closed) borders when travelling is impossible (at least where I live), this doco is a fresh breeze of curiosity, an illuminated insight into music and history. I truly appreciate the spontaneous, almost impromptu approach of the video (of course I'm not saying it wasn't thoroughly edited in great detail). Well done, Nahre, for surrounding yourself with so many inspiring, knowledgeable and passionate people. You also received outstanding feedback in the comments! Congratulations, Nahre.

Brilliant Nahre Sol, this is an absolutely real documentary, it's like we were there. Please give my thanks to your friend Joe. These musical souls you met are purely wonderful. Loved it when that Dr. mentioned the music from the 70's & 80's...old school real :) looks so fun meeting all those brilliant curators of knowledge. To see those original music scores, and letters! OMG... YOU PLAYED HIS PIANO!!😱 Beautiful explanation of the feeling when you were dancing hand in hand with Liszt on his piano. Great video, has a classical feel with a uniquely original hint of free form jazz. Love the enthusiasm in your guest's teachings, appreciate you expanding upon their thoughts too. Hope all's well, good to see-hear you again. Thanks Nahre SoLiszt 🌟🎥💡😎🎼📃🎼😱👐🎹👐😱🎵💃🎵🎤💯👍🌎🌍🌏🎉🎉🎉🍻

What a fantastic video. Thank you, Nahre.

GOD I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO DO A LISZT ANALYSIS THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE AAAHHH 💞😭🥺🥰

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about your wonderful journey ... your discourse was very well done. Always look for a chance to add a bit of sparkle to your compositions, musical or verbal. Also, good editing of all that hand held stuff.

Man I love you Nahre, your videos are so passionately put together!

Les Preludes will always be a favourite of mine as it was my first introduction to Liszt and classical music as a young kid. The Von Karajan Recording for EMI with the Philharmonia orch will forever be my favourite reading of that work.

Fascinating glimpse into Liszt's life in Weimar. I especially enjoyed your performance of Nuages Gris on Liszt's piano. Thank you!

This was interesting, I enjoyed the history lesson and hearing you humbly play his instrument.

What an amazing experience this must have been. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Grüße aus Deutschland! I'd love to see you live in concert if you're ever in NRW (Germany)! You're a huge inspiration and i concider your videos one of the most informative on piano of all time! I followed for i think 1,5 years now and watched every video, you're awesome!

On top of being a great musician and communicator (and I can only imagine a wonderful person), you have become an amazing storyteller, Nahre. As soon as you started playing the eerie Nuages gris on Liszt's piano, my eyes were damped with emotion. Thanks!

Thank you for showing your slice of experience with history. It was super engaging to hear and see through your eyes and the camera a little more about Liszt!

I just wanna say I love your content its been helping me out so much for this whole year so far. thank you for the brilliant videos keep up the great work

Great video. I do appreciate the work and care that went into it by all the people involved as a Liszt fan myself.

So happy to see another video from you.

Thank you Nahre for this fantastic documentary. It is very well made and your reflections are very valuable.

It is amazing that you did this trip and documented it. After watching this, I agree with what you said, that (I'm paraphrasing) knowing better a composers history and having the notion of a bigger picture that involves him adds a lot of value to him and his music. I was especially amazed by how Liszt related to other composers and sort of synthesized their composition methods, also, to see that you PLAYED HIS PIANO; it is comprehensible that you couldn't really put it into words... Thank you for the great content.

Just writing to say that I recently watched the PBS soundfield episode on trap, and I'm now watching this vodie. It's really amazing to see someone who values all forms of music! Most people who value classical music would never take trap seriously, and most people into trap wouldn't be into classical. Your love for all music is so inspirational!

So interesting, thanks for sharing your trip. Seeing an original score is always an emotional experience.

What a wonderful experience! Thank you for this fantastic reportage. You are great!

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience!

You being invited to play on Franz Liszt's piano is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Thank you so much for sharing that incredible moment. Also...That's totally a portrait of Beethoven at 15:14, right?

Had to put this on the flat screen. This video was such a treat! Thank you thank you thank you so much for sharing!

What a wonderful, insightful video! Thank you so much for sharing this.

What an awesome opportunity for someone like you who studies all genres to get a deeper understanding of your craft. Thank you for your passion.

Appreciate your approach to history, musicology and culture. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. Enjoying your how to sound like series very much!

What an incredible experience I feel amazed about those things about liszt that I didn't know. Thank you so much Nahre for making and sharing this video with us 💕💕

Thank you Nahre ! You are an inspiration ♥️ Good job !

I love how his notebooks were also his diary, which makes perfect sense to me.

This was great, thanks for making this Nahre!

Music history is sooooo valuable to composers and performers, thank you for making this video and showing everyone how important it is ♥️♥️♥️

Your passion is infectious. Great video

Thank you Nahre for sharing you journey and insights. i really enjoyed this. thank you.