These études were written in an historical period during which many improvements were made in piano manufacture. New instruments presented more possibilities in terms of sound, tonal volume and structural resistance, which drove Liszt to develop a new kind of piano writing. This cycle thus opened doors to new compositional horizons and has influenced many composers since; today it remains an unsurpassed milestone in piano music.
‘Transcendental’ not only refers to the incredible difficulty of these pieces, both from a technical and interpretative point of view, but also to their mystic nature: exploring something beyond the knowable.
