French composer and pianist Charles-Valentin Alkan is remembered primarily for his highly challenging compositions for the piano, the virtuosity of which attest to his own considerable abilities as a concert pianist. A contemporary of Franz Liszt (with whom he is frequently compared), Alkan performed with Frederic Chopin and associated with many of the Parisian artistic elite such as Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, and George Sand. He led, however, a strangely isolated life, periodically retreating from society. This, and the fact that his music is so difficult to play, may account for his relative obscurity. The Sonatine is of Alkan's mature works (ca. 1862), and one of four sonatas he would compose during his career. The opening Allegro vivace is tightly conceived and economical in its use of thematic material. An impressive fugal section in the development is a highpoint. The Allegramente has a charming childlike innocence. The Scherzo-Minuet is technically demanding in constant motion, with a sublimely restful trio section. Finally, the Tempo giusto/Coda is vintage Alkan: dramatic, virtuosic, and interspersed with moments of profoundly lyrical poetry. Readers are encouraged to listen to Alkan's Grande Sonate "Les Quatre Ages", Op. 33 and Le festin d'Esope, Op. 39, No. 1. (AllMusic)
@@gabindupuy6036 also.....this might be kinda random and creepy but I saw you have Prokofiev's op. 2 etudes in your favorites playlist and I want to make sure you know about Reakellio's recording of them. I think it's way better than Chiu's.
Nothing worse than a pianist that rushes through sometimes random, but oftentimes, the easiest parts of the score. He certainly lives up to his last name.
@@LeSheetMusicBoi I could, but then I'd have to listen to it again. One example from memory - The first series of chords in the 3rd movement that come just before the repeat.
Lots and lots of sequences and lots and lots of silly piano figurations. He writes for the piano in an almost classical style or kind of like early Mendelssohn, just dressed up in weird ways. I have been listening to this guy for 25 years and I don’t get it. Such weird music. Maybe that’s why people like it, but is weird in an unpleasant way to me.
I have to say... his music is definetely really hard and the technique required to play them is incredible. But musically... its boring. There are few good works from him. But there is a reason why he is less famous than chopin and Liszt. In my opinion its mostly pure virtuosity with lack of musicality
@@LeSheetMusicBoi I do Love virtuosity. Liszt is my favourite composer. But in my opinion its just that alkans pieces lack Emotion and passion. Liszt combined virtuosity with beauty and musicality. But I miss those things in MOST pieces of alkan. There are a few nice tho
@Jérôme Lemieux Well its different for everyone. I Undertsnad liszt pretty well. He was one of the first composers I listened to, I know quite a lot about him and his music was there in my most difficult time of life. So he has a meaning for me. And that kinda Influences my opinion ofc. But even when I just compare them... I find liszt much more interesting. He was experimenting quite a lot. He surely was a genius. Alkan surely was good as well. But his style doesnt take my Interest.
![Charles-Valentin Alkan - Deuxième recueil de chants, Op. 38b [1857] (McCallum)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/drQyL9HbC5o/mqdefault.jpg)
![Charles-Valentin Alkan - Deuxième recueil de chants, Op. 38b [1857] (McCallum)](/img/tr.png)
French composer and pianist Charles-Valentin Alkan is remembered primarily for his highly challenging compositions for the piano, the virtuosity of which attest to his own considerable abilities as a concert pianist. A contemporary of Franz Liszt (with whom he is frequently compared), Alkan performed with Frederic Chopin and associated with many of the Parisian artistic elite such as Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, and George Sand. He led, however, a strangely isolated life, periodically retreating from society. This, and the fact that his music is so difficult to play, may account for his relative obscurity.
The Sonatine is of Alkan's mature works (ca. 1862), and one of four sonatas he would compose during his career. The opening Allegro vivace is tightly conceived and economical in its use of thematic material. An impressive fugal section in the development is a highpoint. The Allegramente has a charming childlike innocence. The Scherzo-Minuet is technically demanding in constant motion, with a sublimely restful trio section. Finally, the Tempo giusto/Coda is vintage Alkan: dramatic, virtuosic, and interspersed with moments of profoundly lyrical poetry. Readers are encouraged to listen to Alkan's Grande Sonate "Les Quatre Ages", Op. 33 and Le festin d'Esope, Op. 39, No. 1.
(AllMusic)
@Angela Merkel Whup, glad you caught that!
le festin d'Ésope is op 39 no 12
What are alkans other two sonatas?
@@tmpwow4282I remember "Grande Sonate" (Op. 33), and "Cello Sonata" (Op. 47) besides "Sonatine" (Op. 61), but I have no idea about the final one...
@@Yubin_Lee_Doramelin thnx :)
Anyone who would criticize Alkan as all flash and no substance should listen to 8:45 - 9:34. This man was very forward thinking.
Holly shit now i understand why so few pianists dare to play this piece of music❤❤❤❤❤
In my opinion, this work is one of the greatest masterpiece in the whole piano repertoire!
Agree
Busoni stimava moltissimo le composizioni pianistiche di Alkan
I love this piece, such an awesome work
I love Alkan!
Epic thank you! This is the first alkan piece I've ever heard and now I'm definitely gonna listen to more 😁
@@gabindupuy6036 lol wow thank you very much!!!
@@gabindupuy6036 also.....this might be kinda random and creepy but I saw you have Prokofiev's op. 2 etudes in your favorites playlist and I want to make sure you know about Reakellio's recording of them. I think it's way better than Chiu's.
@@gabindupuy6036 ua-cam.com/play/PLnjEnIfhHDxzx-sz_13V_enPXAkwWumXn.html here ya go
@@gabindupuy6036 :)
@@gabindupuy6036 alkan's scherzo focoso is amazing too
Que agradable! gracias por compartirlo.
I love this video
I love you (no homo)
mmmmmh
@@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabjii love him too! (no homo too)
@@dwacheopussame, (no homo too)
legendaire
Ziemlich wahnsinnig das ganze!
Grossartig gespielt!
15:13 - Excuse me, that's an evil descending bassline...
Alla faccia della Sonatina!
Endlich jemand der das Thema anspricht!
Ein früher Rekord in Der Kunst des Sonatinenschreibens
In puncto: Länge, Virtuosität, Polyphonie, Dramatik....
Help me, im adicted to this
You're gonna stay addicted for good!
4:56
Allegro Vivace is not prestissimo.
Half of these views are mine
No, they're mine (well it's been 3 years lol idk if you're here lol)
15:51 sounded very atonal
Nice! Did you play this?
Nothing worse than a pianist that rushes through sometimes random, but oftentimes, the easiest parts of the score. He certainly lives up to his last name.
@@LeSheetMusicBoi I could, but then I'd have to listen to it again. One example from memory - The first series of chords in the 3rd movement that come just before the repeat.
>"He certainly lives up to his last name."
AHAHAHAHAHAH . I personally like the recording but that's such a great comment
Haha, what a roast.
Exactly 🤣
I prefer Lindgren or Ringeissen in this piece. Smith too.
Eres un envidioso, chaval.
Lots and lots of sequences and lots and lots of silly piano figurations. He writes for the piano in an almost classical style or kind of like early Mendelssohn, just dressed up in weird ways. I have been listening to this guy for 25 years and I don’t get it. Such weird music. Maybe that’s why people like it, but is weird in an unpleasant way to me.
*angry listening for25 years*
I have to say... his music is definetely really hard and the technique required to play them is incredible.
But musically... its boring. There are few good works from him. But there is a reason why he is less famous than chopin and Liszt.
In my opinion its mostly pure virtuosity with lack of musicality
@@LeSheetMusicBoi I do Love virtuosity. Liszt is my favourite composer. But in my opinion its just that alkans pieces lack Emotion and passion.
Liszt combined virtuosity with beauty and musicality.
But I miss those things in MOST pieces of alkan. There are a few nice tho
@Jérôme Lemieux Well its different for everyone. I Undertsnad liszt pretty well. He was one of the first composers I listened to, I know quite a lot about him and his music was there in my most difficult time of life. So he has a meaning for me.
And that kinda Influences my opinion ofc.
But even when I just compare them... I find liszt much more interesting. He was experimenting quite a lot. He surely was a genius. Alkan surely was good as well. But his style doesnt take my Interest.
@Jérôme Lemieux I will surely Check them out ^^
Thanks for sharing ❤
Try Les mois 5, 6 and 7 (in full)
It's better than the op 33, which is mostly tuneless trash
Worthy of "Tom and Jerry." In other words, pure crap.
ok boomer
@Charles Davis, lad you just dismissed liszt's hungarian rhapsody no 2 as pure crap too, certified braindead spotted ✌
You’re absolutely correct if you’re referring to your own comment.
You’re absolutely correct if you’re referring to your own comment.
You’re absolutely correct if you’re referring to your own comment.
This piece is like a really bad Beethoven imitation and slightly better Liszt.
4:55