I actually love this composer and this is the first I’ve heard of him! To me sounds like a very interesting love child of Chopin’s lyrical writing, Rachmaninoff’s rich left hand accompaniments, with a slight twist. Hopefully he’ll become more popular in time
What a magnificent work with the wrist! The thumb seamlessly connects those arpeggios. But monsieur Alkan did never think of how to move the wrist when he woke up one spring morning and just inscribed this chant with his divine hand. This chant will always remind me of the lecture about Alkan that begins with Gibbons's premiere recording and the oddish narrator: "If ever there was a strange and eccentric artistic personality to study, it must surely be that of Charles-Valentine Alko-o-on..."
I don't really know but other performances seem to lack the depth and thought of Mr Smith in his playing of this beautiful piece: Perhaps it is the piano tone, the recording engineer, whatever but this rendition is the best available.
It would have been one of the other Ronald Smiths. The one you're listening to was primarily a concert pianist, but also a fine piano teacher and writer. The Ronald Smith you're thinking of was the Chief Examiner for the Associated Board.
This Ronald Smith ( different to the one you’re referring to ) also had an air of strictness about him. I very well remember his inspiring adjudications at Hastings music festival.
Yeah, not sure what's going on with his rubato. To me it sounds somewhat uncomfortable, such as the way he speeds up the triplets. This where sometimes pianists' own idiosyncrasies/individuality get in the way of the music, rather than enhance it.
We're told that Alkan disliked rubato, but I doubt if his own performances were rigidly metronomic. It was probably a reaction against its abuse. Yes, much of the music doesn't lend itself to rubato the way Chopin and Liszt can, and Smith does do some moderate use of it in places, but I've never heard his performances distort the music.
It is difficult for a new listener to grasp the different romantic approach of Alkan compared to Chopin, Schumann, Brahms and Liszt. He is always a strict classical thinker even tho highly romantic. Hayden seems to be his true guide and never goes beyond a Mendelssohn rubato at most. One has to almost retrain the ear and sensibilities.
Ignorance. Absolutely unfortunate that people actually believe the only reason certain composers are well known is because their music is good, and everyone else fell to the wayside because they stink. Oh well, that's life. :)
OrangeSodaKing I disagree. I feel like Alkan's music is void of meaning. Just about every great composer exept Mendelssohn was brough up poor. But the true geniuses rose above and beyond and thats why theyre so popular
it's the pianists fault. many of them when they play Alkan, it is in a very aggressive way, not warm, not colorful, just to emphasize the false myth of "impossible to play" music. To me, Chopin's etudes are still the hardest ones. and even so it's not the technical difficult that makes them special
![Alkan - Concerto for Solo Piano (Smith) [Christmas Special No. 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/w-_hYYjMiJY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Alkan - Concerto for Solo Piano (Smith) [Christmas Special No. 3]](/img/tr.png)
I actually love this composer and this is the first I’ve heard of him! To me sounds like a very interesting love child of Chopin’s lyrical writing, Rachmaninoff’s rich left hand accompaniments, with a slight twist. Hopefully he’ll become more popular in time
!!
Wow, the melody is very lyrical.
Another Alkan's beautiful, religious and poetic piece! This is just ravishing!
Alkan's best melody!
I think so, too.
I concur with that .
Alkan Alkan more Alkan!
A lovely, enchanting gem of a piece, yet not untouched by a few bizarreries glimpsed around the corners...……...thank you for posting this!
Note the 10 bar phrase lengths . Superbly played by Ronald Smith who I met when he was adjudicating at Hastings music festival in the 1980s.
Beautiful music!!
Comme un chant majeur de poésie à l'air libre,merci pour la découverte et le partage !
I love this video
@f1f1s you took the words right out of my mouth. if you have watched that terrific documentary it makes this even more haunting.
What a magnificent work with the wrist! The thumb seamlessly connects those arpeggios. But monsieur Alkan did never think of how to move the wrist when he woke up one spring morning and just inscribed this chant with his divine hand.
This chant will always remind me of the lecture about Alkan that begins with Gibbons's premiere recording and the oddish narrator: "If ever there was a strange and eccentric artistic personality to study, it must surely be that of Charles-Valentine Alko-o-on..."
love you❤
I don't really know but other performances seem to lack the depth and thought of Mr Smith in his playing of this beautiful piece: Perhaps it is the piano tone, the recording engineer, whatever but this rendition is the best available.
I think Ronald Smith was the examiner when I took my grade 8 pianoforte exam.He is quite strict !
I presume this was in England? Smith died in 2004.
It would have been one of the other Ronald Smiths. The one you're listening to was primarily a concert pianist, but also a fine piano teacher and writer. The Ronald Smith you're thinking of was the Chief Examiner for the Associated Board.
This Ronald Smith ( different to the one you’re referring to ) also had an air of strictness about him. I very well remember his inspiring adjudications at Hastings music festival.
smith's rubato is indeed peculiar, but i can't say i don't like it. interesting performance of an awesome piece!
Yeah, not sure what's going on with his rubato. To me it sounds somewhat uncomfortable, such as the way he speeds up the triplets. This where sometimes pianists' own idiosyncrasies/individuality get in the way of the music, rather than enhance it.
We're told that Alkan disliked rubato, but I doubt if his own performances were rigidly metronomic. It was probably a reaction against its abuse. Yes, much of the music doesn't lend itself to rubato the way Chopin and Liszt can, and Smith does do some moderate use of it in places, but I've never heard his performances distort the music.
It is difficult for a new listener to grasp the different romantic approach of Alkan compared to Chopin, Schumann, Brahms and Liszt. He is always a strict classical thinker even tho highly romantic. Hayden seems to be his true guide and never goes beyond a Mendelssohn rubato at most. One has to almost retrain the
ear and sensibilities.
Très belle oeuvre d'Alkan, si injustement banni des salles de concert...
which do you like more? this or no 6 from this opus?
"Lots of notes without any substance..." Pff! How can anyone say such a thing?!
Ignorance. Absolutely unfortunate that people actually believe the only reason certain composers are well known is because their music is good, and everyone else fell to the wayside because they stink. Oh well, that's life. :)
If other previously neglected composers like Schubert and Haydn could be brought to fame, then Alkan can, too!
OrangeSodaKing I disagree. I feel like Alkan's music is void of meaning. Just about every great composer exept Mendelssohn was brough up poor. But the true geniuses rose above and beyond and thats why theyre so popular
it's the pianists fault. many of them when they play Alkan, it is in a very aggressive way, not warm, not colorful, just to emphasize the false myth of "impossible to play" music. To me, Chopin's etudes are still the hardest ones. and even so it's not the technical difficult that makes them special
@@benjaminbeam5273Such a misguided and depressing perspective. I hope you mature someday.