The Pianoforte Concertos of Liszt, and in particular No. 1 in E Flat, have long been so popular alike with artists and with audiences, that it is a little difficult to believe that they were once received with suspicion and even with dislike. There was one eminent pianist and conductor of a by-gone generation who expressed his contempt for this Concerto by calling it, on every opportunity, 'the Triangle Concerto with Pianoforte accompaniment.' Listeners will not fail to notice the rather prominent part accorded to the Triangle, which gave some excuse for that contemptuous title.

The Concerto begins in a quick tempo, but with a majestic bigness, and the whole orchestra plays the first main tune. Then the solo instrument has a section in calmer mood, and the strings play the second chief tune, slower than the first. The pianist repeats this after the orchestra, and a third tune follows, which is played first by flute and afterwards by clarinet This tune re-appears in the last movement.

The second movement follows without a pause; the chief tune, heralded by the Triangle, is set forth by the strings of the orchestra. It is a vivacious movement with an air of real gaiety.

Still without a break, the last movement appears, opening with the slow melody which was heard already. The movement has something of a martial air, animated and energetic. The flute tune from the first movement makes its appearance too, along with echoes of the previous parts of the work, forming the foundation for a brilliant finish.