It is fitting that the most famous work of this most outstanding composer of transcribes is a transcription. The third Liebestraum (Dream of Love) is often mistakenly referred to as "Liebestraum No. 3" and is among the most cherished melodies worldwide. The three pieces are characterized by their expansive melodies and harmonize beautifully as a whole. For the German songs, Liszt used texts by two different poets. The Liebestraum invites comparison with his three settings of Petrarch's sonnets.
Liszt's two songbooks contain twelve early songs with simple transcriptions. He attempted to preserve the original accompaniment and added the vocal line. Due to his self-criticism, these transcriptions are rare. The development of the second book was tragic, as the transcriptions never progressed beyond the manuscript stage.
The poems that inspired Liszt's compositions are well-known. His settings of Heine's Lorelei and Am Rhein were very popular. Mignon's song from Goethe's Wilhelm Meister has been set to music by many composers. The King of Thule and Der du von dem Himmel bist are further important settings.
The second book contains songs with texts by Victor Hugo. The melodies in French were often more elaborate. Titles such as Comment, disaient-ils and Enfant, si j'étais roi are among Liszt's most frequently performed songs. Las tombe et la rose and Gastibelza are further impressive settings.