Lisztomaniac Challenge Kickoff!

Wed Jul 1 at 11 AM - 12 PM PDT

Event by Team

https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/pno-liszt-challenge-kickoff-2026

Franz Liszt is one of the most exciting, imaginative, and influential composers in the piano repertoire.

When many people hear "Liszt," they immediately think of impossible virtuosity, flying octaves, and more.

And yes, some participants will be tackling those works during this challenge!

Check out this special page reflecting the community working on completing the Transcendental Etudes! Special thanks to for organizing all of this!

But Liszt wrote music for pianists of many different levels, and this challenge is about exploring all corners of his music!

Whether you're learning a Consolation, a short piece from Years of Pilgrimage, a Liebestraum, a Hungarian Rhapsody, or even taking on one of the great virtuoso masterpieces, there's a place for you here.

In this kickoff livestream, we'll discuss:

What the Lisztomaniac Challenge is all about
Why Liszt's music is worth exploring
Choosing the right piece for your level
What makes Liszt's music unique
How to approach practicing Liszt effectively

It's about spending time with one of the most fascinating composers in the piano repertoire and making meaningful progress, wherever you are in your musical journey.

Join us for the kickoff, bring your questions, and let's begin our Liszt adventure together!

- Noel_Nguyen
- 1 mth ago
- Reported - view
So just to be clear, it's not just the Etudes anymore, but anything Liszt. I like this!

Nevertheless, let's keep the utopian Transcendental dream alive😁.
- TT2022
  
  1 mth ago
  
  Reported - view
  I love how your grassroots movement became official. I guess the transcendental set will be like a store within a store! And definitely the showstopper highlight.
- Pediatrician
  
  a_weymann
  
  1 mth ago
  
  Reported - view
  this is so amazing! I still can’t quite believe it’s really happening. Kudos to you for having the idea, and then the energy and dedication to see it through. And special thanks to for embracing the project and making it official!!
- Noel_Nguyen
  
  1 mth ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks man, and welcome back🙂.
- Noel_Nguyen
- 1 mth ago
- Reported - view
said:
your grassroots movement

We will prevail! 😁
- Mom, fitness instructor, lover of music
- Michelle_Russell
- 2 wk ago
- Reported - view
I'm hoping to make it to the livestream, but in case I cannot:

1. Are there any Liszt pieces that are actually at a late elementary/early intermediate level? (short, learnable within the month-long time-frame)

2. Would collaborative pieces, such as the vocal work Sancta Caecilia, or something similar, be ok to include in the challenge?
- Noel_Nguyen
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  Not that I make the rules here, but I'm sure that Sancta Caecilia would be a very welcome submission!
  
  As for "easier" Liszt, I think the Étude en douze exercices (Study in twelve exercises), S.136 would qualify. But I'm sure there is much more, considering his very large repertoire!
- Akzent oder Diminuendo?
  
  Maria_F
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  La Cloche Sonne?
- Mom, fitness instructor, lover of music
  
  Michelle_Russell
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks, Noel. We have a little field harmonium, which Thurmond thinks he can play one-handed (because the other hand is needed to pump), which is why I thought of Sancta Caecilia. And thanks for the "easier" Liszt - it needs to be much easier than that for me!!
  
  Yes, I've looked at this one. It is probably the best fit (and I do really like it). I was hoping there were a couple other options, though! Thank you.
- Noel_Nguyen
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  Another idea, instead of looking for easier pieces, is to look for easier excerpts! Take for example the beautiful passage that begins at 5:25 here. It may sound scary to play, but I don't think you'd have much trouble:
  
  (And think about it, you'd be playing a part of his greatest work ever!)
- Akzent oder Diminuendo?
  
  Maria_F
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  Liszt also composed very short Album Leaves, and some things from Weihnachtsbaum are easy (it isn't Christmas, though).
  
  Nuages Gris is odd, but it may not be too hard. En Rêve is harder, but is easier than a lot of Liszt.
  
  Pastorale from Années de pèlerinage 1, Il Penseroso from Années de pèlerinage 2, and Angelus from Années de pèlerinage 3 (the easiest from Années de pèlerinage) are harder than the rest of the easier pieces.
- Peter_William
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  I am a rank beginner :-) and had a rule- Nothing to play with either Liszt, Rachmaninoff or Ravel - at least for another 3 years( for me - Listen to others and applaud a lot! ) . Is this rule misguided ? lol!.
- Peter_William
  
  2 wk ago
  
  Reported - view
  wow ! this section that you pointed to - does sound like a section of Chopin's Piano Concerto .. no?
- Kerstin
- 2 wk ago
- Reported - view
Wow! What a challenge! The 2 pieces by Liszt I have ever played were 2 etudes - Eroice and Ricordanza. I am interested in what’s going on here. 🌟
- Unfrozen Barroom Piano Player
- Peter_G
- 2 wk ago
- Reported - view
Hello everyone, I will not be free to participate in this event today. Is it going to be recorded so that I can view it later?
- Stephanie_Tingley
- 2 wk ago
- Reported - view
Intermediate/Late Intermediate player here. Anyone have a suggestion for a Liszt piece for me? New to the composer too. TIA