Csárdás (Liszt) Csárdás (Liszt) The three csárdás that Franz Liszt wrote in 1881-2 and 1884 are solo piano pieces based on the Hungarian dance form of the same name. Liszt treats the dance form itself much less freely than he did much earlier with the "verbunkos" in the Hungarian Rhapsodies, and the material itself remains more specifically Hungarian than gypsy in thematic material. Their spare lines, angular rhythms and advanced harmonies show these pieces to be direct ancestors of the compositions of Béla Bartók. Because of these attributes, the csárdás are considered by Liszt scholars among the more interesting of the composer's
Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Ravel) his arrangement, and even recorded it with Charles Munch leading the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra. American composer Stephen Sondheim wrote a senior paper in college on the piece. The piece is featured prominently in "Morale Victory," an episode from the 8th season of the long-running American television series "M*A*S*H". Major Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) uses it and Wittgenstein's story to convince a drafted concert pianist (James Stephens), whose right hand has been permanently injured in combat, not to give up his musical gift despite his wounds. Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Ravel) The Piano Concerto for the Left Hand