Liszt's La Campanella: 5 Tips on how to play it plus performance (Pianist Duane Hulbert)

One of the most difficult piano pieces ever written! Liszt took a melody from Paganini's Second Violin Concerto and turned it into a virtuosic work of art.
Here Grammy-nominated pianist Duane Hulbert gives 5 tips on how to play this challenging piece.

It's in a theme and variation form which means Liszt sets out the theme and then writes a series of variations, each one more progressively difficult.

Watch for the dramatic leaps in the opening theme. The delicacy of the first variations is followed by the thundering power of the final variation.

A full performance begins at 8:09.

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Thanks for watching!

[kfc]

I can’t describe how much I loved this performance..

[diablothelick]

I'm a drummer and have been playing it for more than 10 years, and playing La Campanella has always been my little secret dream for years.
I only have the piano basics but I'm very motivated even if it's a piece insanely out of reach compared to my level, but with motivation and constancy in 1 month I managed to perfect the first part of the piece, and I have a lot more motivation to complete this difficult undertaking!

[stefinlithuania]

I like him, I really respect this guy. It's good to do what he does. I just want to point out what almost EVERY pianist, including him, does wrong. The very beginning is not TA-ta-ta, TA-ta-ta, but ta-ta-TA, ta-ta-TA with a constant dimunendo.

[benjaminpearlman]

Before playing a Campanella learn few pieces with Campanella type of technique. They do exist.

[alisonpham]

This piece of music fascinates me and stumps me. Playing it very slowly atm, but needing tips and techniques to help perservere. Ty for this.

[naokookadahill]

At your age you are excellent !
I will use this tips for my teaching. Thank you

[amirsaraee]

thank u veryyyy much!! you helped me a lot with those 32nd moves

[nachopistola]

Much love from Bolivia! Love your channel Sir.

[jinshilyi]

Bravissimo Dr. So awesome. Sending lots of love, Jinshil

[andsnwhit]

What a stirring piece - I cannot even imagine how challenging it is to play!

[jaredoaks]

Absolutely thrilling to watch and listen.

[brian]

I use the ring finger(the forth finger) instead pinky at the beginning jumps because it is longer and more accurate to me

[carlosayam]

I am not a pianist, but kinda got those were great tips... And then heard you playing, awesome!

[mr.jds-_-]

I've only been playing piano for one month and I've managed to learn the first part, slowly though. Ik as a beginner it should not be a piece that I should be practicing but I'm fascinated by it so I decided to learn how to at least start it. Since I practice 1-10 hours everyday day on vacations and 1-4hrs during school time, 2hrs on basics, one hour just reading and listening music and the rest on pieces. That's how I've managed to make lots of progress from day one. Maybe I'm too ambitious. It cramps my entire arms and numbs my wrists. It's a goal I've set for my piano journey. Any advice on getting less cramps/pain in the arms? I'm self taught so I don't have any assistance from a teacher

[Pabloalexis]

Thank you so much for sharing your content, i don't even have a Piano but I hope soon to be using your tips while playing 😃

[queenyaz]

I’m born on Liszt’s birthday so hopefully this will help… & yes I play! But this is a challenging piece!

[hanjustin]

very flexible fingers for this age... Maybe piu mosso could be sped up?

[connerplace]

I’ve been playing for 2 years and my piano teacher says it’s banned for recital solos haha, want to try to learn this, even if it’s at 50-75 % speed

[MarcvsAvrivs]

Hej Duane, I still keep te problem to play correctly the 32th notes from bar 24 (to play Fis-Eis-Disis-Eis) i tried it with fingers 4-3-2-3 and 1 on the Ais and also to do it with fingers 3-2-1-2 and 1 on Ais, by the 1st fingersetting I do probably something wrong and don't get it smooth. With the 2nd fingersetting I don't get the speed coz the tumb is always to late to strike the Ais after the 32th motive. Do u have any suggestions for me? to put the fingers to the front doesn't really works with this motive (while by the other motives from f.i. bar 22 works good).

KR

Matthijs

[HaraldinChina]

fascinating. at 2:00 when you say "looking at the notes" you mean looking at the keys, right? can't see how the notes would help me find the right keys