Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer and pianist who is credited with inventing the symphonic poem, a genre of orchestral music. He was one of the most influential musicians of the 19th century and his works were highly influential in the development of modern classical music. Liszt was also a prolific composer, writing over 700 works, including symphonic poems, operas, choral works, and piano pieces. His symphonic poems, which combined elements of symphonic and program music, were particularly influential in the development of the genre.