Franz Liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

The Hungarian-born composer and pianist Franz Liszt was strongly influenced by the music heard in his youth, particularly Hungarian folk music, with its unique gypsy scale, rhythmic spontaneity and direct, seductive expression. 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2', is the second in a set of 19 Hungarian rhapsodies Liszt composed but it is by far the most famous of the set. It was dedicated to Count László Teleki and first published as a piano solo in 1851. Its immediate success and popularity on the concert stage led to an orchestrated version, arranged in 1857-1860 by the composer in collaboration with Franz Doppler. Dutch arranger Christiaan Janssen transcribed the 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2' for Symphonic Band. For this transcription he used as well the Doppler version as the version by Müller-Berghaus.