🇭🇺Franz Liszt ： Totentanz d-moll S.525/R.188

Based on the melody of the Gregorian chant “Dies irae,” this work for solo piano is built around a theme and variations. A weighty, percussive impact in the lower register and sharp rhythms support the piece as the theme is transformed through dense chords, leaps, and rapid passagework. A key point is to clarify the character of each variation and the contrasts between registers, rather than relying solely on forceful playing. In performance, it is important to preserve the rhythmic framework even in loud passages and to avoid clouding the sonority with excessive pedal. Giving lightness to the smaller movements while sustaining the tension of the longer phrases brings out the work’s dramatic effect.