Liszt finished the original work for piano two hands in 1876 which he arranged for piano duet some weeks later and dedicated to hisgrand-daughter Daniela von Bülow. The series belonging to the late piano works consists of three volumes. In the first transcriptions ofearly christmas carols can be found while the remaining two hold mostly genre pictures. Characteristic of the majority of the pieces is anintimate, lyrical mood and a sense of devotion that surrounds the feast. The prerequisites of rendering these items include a high degree of musical intelligence and refined taste. Virtuosic capabilities are mainly required by the last two movements of portrait character entitled Ungarisch and Polisch. The harmonies and effects of the cycle point already beyond Romanticism and anticipate the music of thebeginning of the 20th century.
 

Franz Liszt