Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer and pianist who lived in the 19th century. He was known not only as a performer but also as a conductor, teacher, arranger, organist, author, and philanthropist. Liszt was involved in many roles during the Romantic era, and he was also a Franciscan tertiary. His work and life were very active in music and other areas throughout his time. Liszt became famous early in the 1800s for his incredible skill as a pianist. He had strong connections with many important composers and musicians of his day, such as Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, and Robert Schumann, among others. Liszt helped promote and support these composers, acting as a friend and benefactor. As a composer, Liszt was linked to the New German School, which was a movement with new musical ideas. He created a large and varied collection of music that influenced many of his contemporaries and anticipated ideas that would be important in the 20th century. His creative style showed a move away from old traditions toward new ways of making music. Liszt is especially known for inventing the symphonic poem, a type of musical work. He also worked on ideas about changing musical themes within a piece and made bold changes in harmony. These contributions were part of his experiments with musical form and helped shape future developments in music.