Virtuosos of the Classical World

The month of October shares the birthdays of two of the most talented composers/performers to grace the world. Franz Liszt, born October 22, 1811 and Niccoló Paganini, born October 27, 1782 are known as virtuosos. A virtuoso is a musician whose talents are on a professional and seemingly other-worldly level. These gifted individuals break down the walls of limitations set on their instruments, paving the way for even harder music to be composed and performed.

Paganini was a famous Italian violinist, so famous in fact that many accused him of selling his soul to the devil! He had very long fingers and big hands, which allowed him to execute violin techniques that many could not. The progression of the violin as a technically demanding instrument had been in constant evolution since the Baroque Era (1600-1750), but thanks to Paganini, new demanding techniques were developed that skyrocketed the difficulty of the violin as a solo performing instrument. Pieces were faster than ever, demanding both left hand agility and an impeccable bow technique. Paganini’s most influential and most famous violin works are his 24 Caprices, which are some of the hardest pieces in the world for violin. Written for solo violin, these pieces are amazing to listen to when executed properly.

Here is a concert of all 24 caprices. From the first note, you can tell that these pieces are jaw-droppingly difficult!

Lizst was a Hungarian pianist whose reputation as a performer may have even surpassed that of Paganini. As a pianist myself, I can tell you that not many other compositions can rival the difficulty of a Lizst work. Since the piano’s creation in the early to mid 1700s, it was established as a solo instrument, with many demanding works written for it. Almost every composer throughout history has written difficult piano music but only few require the technique that Lizst’s pieces do. His Hungarian Rhapsodies and Trancendental Études are some of the hardest virtuosic pieces for the piano even written!

Here is his Trancendental Étude No. 4, “Mazeppa”:

Notice the fast rhythms in between the actual melody and how the fingers must play rapidly up and down the keyboard without flaw. There are chords that would take only the largest of hands to execute and there are excerpts that require a light and quiet touch while still being very fast. In other words, this music is TOUGH!

Lizst was also known to take famous music from other composers and make difficult and fun arrangements of them for piano. Here’s a piece transcribed from none other than Paganini’s work La Campanella or “The Little Bell”. Again, be prepared to be blown away!