Franz Liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Hungarian Rhapsody N° 2 is the second in a set of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies by composer Franz Liszt, and is by far the most famous of the set. Few other piano solos have achieved such widespread popularity, offering the pianist the opportunity to reveal exceptional skill as a virtuoso while providing an immediate and irresistible musical appeal for the listener. Both the original piano solo form and the orchestrated version of this composition have found widespread use in animated cartoons. Its themes have also served as the basis of several popular songs. Composed in 1847 and dedicated to Count László Teleki, Hungarian Rhapsody N° 2 was first published as a piano solo in 1851. Its immediate success and popularity on the concert stage soon led to an orchestrated version, arranged by the composer in collaboration with Franz Doppler. The Japanese composer Tohru Takahashi has made a splendid transcription of this great music for clarinet choir. A wonderful piece of music for an advanced ensemble!