La Leggierezza

Three Concert Études (Trois études de concert), S.144, are a set of three piano études by Franz Liszt, composed between 1845–49 and published in Paris as Trois caprices poétiques with the three individual titles as they are known today.

As the title indicates, they are intended not only for the acquisition of a better technique, but also for concert performance. Liszt himself was a virtuoso on the piano. Due to an unusual flexibility in his fourth fingers, he was easily able to play many complex patterns some consider difficult. The Italian subtitles now associated with the studies – Il lamento ("The Lament"), La leggierezza ("Lightness"), Un sospiro ("A sigh") – were not in early editions.

Il lamento is the first of Liszt's Three Concert Études. Written in A-flat major, it is among the composer's longest pieces in this genre. It starts with a four-note lyrical melody which folds itself through the work, followed by a Chopin-like chromatic pattern which reappears again in the coda section. Although this piece opens and ends in A-flat major, it shifts throughout its three parts to many other keys including A, G, B, D-sharp, F-sharp and B.

La leggierezza (meaning "lightness") is the second of the Three Concert Études. It is a monothematic piece in F minor with a very simple melodic line in each hand under an unusual Quasi allegretto tempo marking, usually ignored in favour of something a bit more frenetic. It starts with a fast, but delicate sixteen chromatic-note arpeggio divided in thirds and sixths under an irregular rhythmic subdivision and cadenza so as to underline the light atmosphere of its title. The technical difficulties involved include rapid leggiero chromatic runs, often with irregular rhythmic groupings, and passages in sixths and thirds. An Ossia for the right hand involving brilliant runs in minor thirds is almost universally preferred by performers.

La leggierezza often included an alternate ending written by Polish teacher Theodor Leschetizky. Two of his students, Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Benno Moiseiwitsch, performed and recorded this variation. The Paderewski recording includes the full "Leschetizky ending," while the recording by Moiseiwitsch includes his own abbreviated version of the Leschetizky ending.Simon Barere recorded the piece with an abbreviated version of the Leschetizky coda with critical results in the press.

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Wikipedia