Franz Liszt - Transcendental Etude no. 8
Albert K.
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”Wilde Jagd” composed by the legendary piano superstar Franz Liszt, is the 8th of his 12 Transcendental etudes, completed in 1852. These etudes are some of the most virtuosic and technically demanding pieces written for the piano, and combined innovative techniques created by Liszt. This etude stood out to me because of the ruthless emotions it captivated. “Wilde Jagd”, in German which means “Wild Hunt”, exhibits a mythological figure leading valkyries and fairies as they capture souls of the living. I explored implementing other music genres I listened to, such as rock. I brought out lower notes in the climatic section in a conversational manner to create a sense of the wailing screams of the valkyries. In the buildup after the climax, I emphasized each progressing chord, reminiscent of the valkyries’ tortuous ascent upward. In summary, Liszt’s daredevil-like compositions still resonate with intense music today, through sheer virtuosity and ruthlessness.
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In the world of classical music performance, creativity is reminiscent of bringing color to a black and white painting to express your own interpretations of what is already there. The beauty of creativity that we have different tastes which accumulates into a woven tapestry of reciprocal influence.
