Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Study group: Liebestraum #3 (Liszt)

Greetings everyone:

I am contemplating picking up a major piece (for me), and Liebestraum #3 is high on my priority list (the the other possibility being Chopin's 10/12, which may be beyond my technical ability for a while, at least at proper speed - but I would be game on the study group for that too).


Anybody wish to jump in?

-- I will edit my first post to reference info that is essential to the study group in general --

scores (public domain) are here:
http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=645
(thanx for the reference, LarryP)
and here:
http://imslp.org/wiki/Special:Search?fulltext=Search&search=liebestraum

I put (temporarily for the benefit of this group only - to minimize possible copyright infringement) a rendition of the piece by Claudio Arrau here:

http://www.box.net/shared/af6fycurqg

My brief analysis of the score and action plan is here:

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/32/4368.html#000005

-----

So far the group consists of

hopinmad
kawaigirl1
LarryP
Lisztener
tvpiano
YD

I am a big fan of this piece, and would also be keen to learn it. However, I have two problems:

1) There seem to be a couple of *really* tough sections which may be far beyond my ability.
2) I'm not very good with the 'study group' idea - so far my track record is joined-3, quit-3!

But I would be willing to give it a shot!

I downloaded the sheet music....I will give it a try.
Here is the link; http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=645

I'm open to trying this. It doesn't look that hard, but the cadenzas might be a little tricky.

I prefer the IMSLP score.

It doesn't have that fake-machine look, but it still shows the melody.

Re: difficulty of this.

I have heard something like 10 different versions played by famous pianists. Indeed, on much of them the cadenzas sound impossible... ha ha ha

However, I also own a recording that IMHO is one of (if not THE) most beautiful renditions of the Liebestraum by Claudio Arrau, and he plays cadenzas, hm, rather slow. I think it is not much of a copyright infringement if I let you listen to just one song of an old CD that is not available for sale anymore:

http://www.box.net/shared/v7glj52l1y

In fact, the difficult parts for me are in the middle (the jumps), because of my right hand that is, hm, not quite right :-)

Wow, 4 of us so far (in less than 1/2 hour)!

Here is a brief analysis of the score:

It consists of the following parts:

I (measures 1-22) Introduction and development of the melody
II (measures 22-24) first cadenza
III (measures 25-35) Correction (thanx, tvpiano!)Part 3 starts with B major then modulates to C major with the bridge of F9->G7->C with measures 35, 36, 37 respectively.
IV (measures 36-48) Key changes again to C major, this is where the most difficult part starts (big jumps at faster pace)
V (measures 49-56) Key back to A Flat, tempo to "appasionata assai", culminating in
VI (measures 57-58) second cadenza
VII (measures 59-82) final section reverts back to original tempo and is to be played "dolce armonioso" gradually slowing down for the last 15 mesures. Beautiful echo (part of melody?) makes this last portion absolutely ethereal.

So, suggested plan of action is:

1. Learn part I as an introduction of melody and harmony - 2 weeks
2. Learn part V as the most difficult part - 3 weeks
3. Learn part IV as the 2nd most difficult part - 4 weeks (it is longer that part V)
4. Learn part III - 2 weeks
5. Add two cadenzas - 2 weeks.
6. Learn final section (VII) - 3 weeks (it is simple but rather long)
7. Memorize (if didn't do it already), polish - 1 month.

Total: 5 months. Should be good for Fall recital :-)

Any suggestions/modifications?

It's funny to have stumbled onto this thread- I have been working on this piece for about 1 yr, and am playing it in a recital at the end of the month! It has given me FITS throughout, but I think I've gotten it reasonably polished now (amateur-level, that is).
If by "cadenzas" you're referring to the "quasi-cadenzas" in my version, i.e.. the amazingly fast-paced sections that seem impossible to play.... yes, they are very hard, for me the second one was the hardest thing I've ever tried to learn on piano but I finally have it memorized! And no, it won't be at warp speed at this point, but at least I can hit it most of the time.
The section with the large leaps at fast pace is very hard too- just takes lots and lots and lots of practice. Ditto with part 3. Very tricky, even now.
This is my perspective, in any case... it will take tons of practice and it will test your patience, but ultimately if you're determined (and as stubborn as I am) you will get it!
Good luck to all

I have been wanting to learn this piece for awhile now, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to join into this study group if I may.

I am totally delighted: I listened to your recital pieces, and judging by your playing, it should be quite doable for all of us - though definitely not a simple task, at least for me.

Euan Morrison, kawaigirl1, LarryP, playadom: Thank you for joining; I promise to try to support you as much as possible. The most help can come in form of suggestions from my teacher who is usually open to me suggesting new pieces (she was fine with my 5th Rhapsody, so I hope this one will be OK with her too - I'm meeting her on Saturday, will know for sure then).

I will try to keep the links to important information in my first post (will edit it frequently) - that way it will be easily accessible. I also asked C7Player to add our group to the pinned "Important information" thread - it is there already - thanx, C7Player! - so we may get some more exposure and new members that way.

I took a more detailed look at cadenzas; it looks like they are much simpler than they sound - it is all parallel movement, just like Hanon exercises :-) So it should be just mechanical memorization - not too technical. I will try to memorize the second (harder one) over the weekend - will post the result (even if it is embarasing) just so that we all have some idea of how difficult it really is.

Other then cadenzas, unless you suggest otherwise, I will start as planned, with section I (measures 1-22). In my estimate it should take about 2 weeks of daily practice with at least 1/2 hour devoted to it - YMMV (your mileage may vary). ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) for it is, thereore approximately June 3rd (2 weekends from now).

I am really looking forward to it. Again, thanx everyone for joining, and, please spread the word, I am hoping for more of us to join in.

Fasten the seatbelts, 'cause this is going to be one bumpy ride!


I have two versions of the score - the regular, and also a simplified.
Is there any advantage to working on the basic version to get each section started quickly, then switching to the full version to complete it?

Or should I just use the full score on its own?

I downloaded both. The ISMLP looks easier to read.

Euan:

Re: simplified versions.

I dunno. The only simplified version I've heard was that of Clayderman. IIRC (if I remember correctly), that was missing significant portions of the original.

My take on simplified versions is that I use them to sight read (badly, I must admit) new stuff. Like, I read a simplified version of Staadchen (correct spelling?) just to undestand the development of the melody.

On the other hand, knowing simplified version can be benefitial for performances as a possible fallback to recover from flubs...

The first part of Liebestraum (measures 1-22), however, looks simple enough so that I would just study that, and see how it goes... May I suggest that you play through the first 5 measures of the original before committing to a particulare way?

Euan, I'm afraid that the simplified edition might be radically different in some ways, so if you learn that, it might hinder your progress. Of course, it might also be quite useful. You should sit down and compare the two.

Hi - thanks for the advice!

I just checked and indeed my simplified edition is in a different key! So it's been shelved as we speak.

Sitting down to the proper copy now!

Re: scores

ISMLP has 5 versions, of which I definitely prefer the last one (#05980), for, although it does not have melodic line highlighted (no big deal, as I've heard it so many times!), it 1) does have fingering, and 2) is only 4 pages, so it fits completely on my music deck (I taped the 4 pages together to form a very wide singe page).

Hi everyone,

I know this is only day 1, and its a pessimistic attitude, but I'm sadly going to have to drop out of the group/challenge.

I appreciated the piece would be tough - but after really studying the score tonight, it's most definately miles beyond my abilities. I know for sure that those tricky sections would take me months, rather than weeks to learn. I just feel that my time would be better spent learning easier pieces which will take less time and are more nearer my level.

I am sure that when the time is right, I will look into playing Liebestraum, because it is certainly one of my favourite pieces.

I wish you all the best of luck, and look forward to hearing the finished results

Thanks to everyone,
Euan.

Euan, I sympathize with you...I have looked it over and fiddled a bit....I am going to give it a go, altho my confidence is wavering, I gotta try for a couple of weeks. We'll see.

Euan:

I also sympathize with you; however there is nothing pessimistic about your attitude: we are all adults here and make our judgements as to where our efforts are best spent. So, you attitude is, in fact, quite commendable.

My attitude is actually quite optimistic: the piece is definitely difficult, and will take months to master. However, this is exactly the reason for the study group: to support each other in a difficult undertaking, and to have fun in the process!

If you visit this thread once in a while, you are welcome to listen to our laughable 1st attempts too: this way you'll know you made the right decision :-)

One of my all-time favorite movies. Ha! Love it. Bette Davis was just fabulous.

...
"De Witt escorts Eve into the party, leaving Margo at the stairs drinking another martini. Getting more drunk [with alcoholic embalming fluid] and morbid, she prefers to hear only sad tunes on the piano as she sits on the piano bench next to the piano player. She insists that he play the same sad song, Liebestraum, for the fifth "straight time." Bill joins her and asks about viewing the body - a comment about the funeral atmosphere hanging over the supposedly 'happy birthday' party. Margo is depressed about her age (in contrast to Eve's youthful vitality) and has remained that way to spite Bill:

Bill: Many of your guests have been wondering when they may be permitted to view the body. Where has it been laid out?
Margo: It hasn't been laid out. We haven't finished with the embalming. As a matter of fact, you're looking at it - the remains of Margo Channing, sitting up. It is my last wish to be buried sitting up.

Actually, in the movie it was "a bumpy night," at least that's how I remember it - am I wrong?