Funérailles

Funérailles by Franz Liszt, catalogued as S. 173, is a work for solo piano in F-sharp major. Composed during the Romantic era, it forms part of the composer's enduring contribution to the keyboard repertoire and is freely available in the public domain through archives such as IMSLP.

Franz Liszt redefined what was technically possible at the piano. His Études d'exécution transcendante, the B-minor Sonata, the Années de pèlerinage, and the operatic paraphrases set a virtuoso standard that the late nineteenth century built on.

The work is suited to advanced-level pianists. As with all repertoire from this period, study editions vary; the public-domain engravings linked here are based on the most widely-circulated nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century editions and are sufficient for serious study, recital preparation, and recording.

About Franz Liszt

Franz Liszt redefined what was technically possible at the piano. His Études d'exécution transcendante, the B-minor Sonata, the Années de pèlerinage, and the operatic paraphrases set a virtuoso standard that the late nineteenth century built on.

Key character — F-sharp major

Distant and luminous, six sharps from C. Used by Chopin in the Barcarolle and by Scriabin for music of mystical light.

The Romantic Era

The Romantic era turned the piano into an orchestra under ten fingers. Chopin, Schumann, Schubert, Liszt, Brahms, and Mendelssohn pushed expression toward the personal and the poetic, exploiting pedal, color, and virtuosity in equal measure.

About the Character Piece form

A short, self-contained Romantic miniature with a distinct mood or programmatic suggestion — the genre that includes Schumann's Albumblätter, Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, and Grieg's Lyric Pieces.