Transcendental Étude No. 5 (Liszt)

The Transcendental Étude No. 5 in B-flat major, subtitled Feux Follets (Will-o'-the-Wisps), is the fifth of Franz Liszt's twelve Transcendental Études, S.139. It is known for its dazzling virtuosity, requiring the pianist to execute rapid double notes, wide leaps, and shimmering tremolos, often imitating the flickering, elusive movements of will-o'-the-wisps, the ghostly lights it is named after.

The étude is considered one of the most technically challenging pieces in the piano repertoire. Its difficulty lies not only in the speed and accuracy required but also in maintaining clarity and musicality amidst the complexity. The double note passages, in particular, demand exceptional evenness and independence of fingers. The piece is often played by advanced pianists as a display of their technical prowess.

The Feux Follets étude is characterized by its lightness and ethereal quality. Despite its technical demands, the music evokes a sense of playful mischief and fleeting beauty. The rapid figuration and delicate textures create an impression of shimmering light and elusive movement, capturing the essence of the will-o'-the-wisps. The piece's harmonic language, while rooted in B-flat major, contains chromatic shifts and modulations that add to its expressive richness. It is a standard work in the advanced piano literature, often performed in recitals and competitions.