In the 19th century, the Spanish soundscape fascinated many composers. Pieces with a Spanish character enjoyed greater popularity than authentic Spanish compositions. During his travels through the Iberian Peninsula in 1844/45, Liszt encountered folk melodies that later found their way into his piano works. Through music and students, his connection to Spain and Portugal endured.
Liszt's Great Concert Fantasy on Spanish Melodies was published posthumously. It includes three melodies as well as themes from Mozart's Figaro. La Romanesca, a Spanish dance tune, linked Liszt to Italy. His Rhapsodie espagnole, published in 1867 with the subtitle "Folies d'Espagne et Jota aragonesa," is among his best-known works today.
Whether Liszt actually met Soriano Fuertes y Piqueras in Córdoba remains unclear. The piece "Feuille morte," published around 1845, is a creative paraphrase of a song. With "El contrabandista," an arrangement of Manuel García's successful zarzuela "El poeta calculista," Liszt created an impressive piano piece.