Transcendental Etude No. 2 in A minor (Liszt)
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Transcendental Etude No. 2 in A minor, "Molto Vivace", or "Fusées" (Rockets) is the 2nd piece of the Transcendental Etude set by Franz Liszt. The title "Fusées" is not Liszt's own, but was added by Busoni in his edition of the Etudes. It is a study in alternating hands, hands overlapping hands, both hands playing the same note alternatingly, and sky rocketing, steep right hand leaps.
[edit] Form
This piece is an extremely volatile one as fierce alternating notes in fortissimo fire away. Soon the notes alternate even fiercer, followed by a flying right hand arpeggio accompanied by long ripped chords. Then new difficulties are introduced as the right hand skyrockets high on the keyboard and returns firmly, offsetting a set of same note left hand- right hand alternations. As the climax of the song approaches the song crescendos and plays even fiercer low pitched notes and soon the right hand figures explode with erratic chords that climb high up to the keyboard and then climbs down. The climax then ensues as both hands alternate on the same notes that climb 5 octaves up the keyboard and down again, then fires again and down again. Then the right hand arpeggios recapitulates and the right hand flies even higher and steeper. After a few more loud chords, the song finally relents.
[edit] Visual Image
Though the name of "Fusées" (Rockets) was not given by Liszt himself, the title would definitely apply to the song due to the right hand figures that leap off the keyboard, giving impressions of rockets going off.
