Franz Liszt emerged as one of the most influential figures in classical music. He was regarded by most as the greatest pianist of all time, his genius extending beyond just the piano to musical composition and performance well ahead of other composers in the 19th century. The majority of Liszt's compositions breathe and flow with a human beat of passion rather than a metronomic, or robotic, beat. He also invented the "symphonic poem," in which orchestral composition was based on literature, depicting stories or images.
"Un Sospiro" is the third of Franz Liszt's Three Concert Etudes. It was written in dedication to Liszt's uncle. This piece is primarily played on the piano, but can be accompanied by other instruments such as the violin. "Un Sospiro" consists of a flowing background played by both hands on the treble and bass cleffs. Notes are played in an ascending followed by a descending order very quickly, accented -- when the notes reach the "pinnacle" and "nadir" of the arrangement -- by a simple melody on the third staff. The melody is played during the flowing background by both hands, each transitioning from the melody back to the harmony simultaneously. The melody and harmony change slightly from the intro's "version" into more complex arrangements. Throughout the piece, there is always the presence of the third staff notes; first played as single staccato notes, then later played with an added note on a higher pitch, and finally played as interval staccatos in the last third staff measure.
Towards the end of the piece, after the climax, both hands are needed to simultaneously cross into the melody from the harmony in an even more complex pattern. Notes are located at a considerable distance from each other, and are to be played rapidly.
