Alkan the most underrated Romantic Composer

[choliszgetibusselkan]

By the title you probably know how i feel. I mean his music is so lyrical and virtuosic! Does anybody else feel the same way or have any other composers from the Romantic period they feel deserves a bit more attention? im still quite new to the classical world.

ps- and if anybody can guess what composers constitutes my portmanteau of a screen name, ill give you a cookie.

pps- if anyone can provide me sheet music for les quatre ages sonata by the guy i was talking about, ill be very very happy.

ppps-been only a "classical" listener for only 20 months i think

pppps-thats because music today has lost its flavor

ppppps- there will be no more pses.

[Drummer06]

Wecome to Chopin music.

Now First things First... You Gotta tell me what kind of Cookie it is, Because I'm one Heck of a Picky
Eater when come to Sweets. lol

And your Screen name contains The names of Chopin, Liszt, Ligeti, Debussey And Alkan. (Ligeti is the First thing that came to mind) Nice Name, I Admire your Creativity.

Next, I agree that Alkan is Just one of the underrated Composers, But I don't know much I have only heard two of his pieces.

For the Scores I would Check out this web Site http://alkan.assos.free.fr/alkan/04_partitions_en.html It says the Scores are Free.
But If it does not work Let me know and I will Keep searching.

Again Welcome, you will soon find that there are many other Wise, Talented and all around Hip Members here. Who I'm Sure would like to help you with any other Topics you may have.

Always
D6

[choliszgetibusselkan]

Thanks for the site, but ive already found out about it several months ago in a desperate search for his sheet music. I was really ecstatic.

while i was really happy about all the sheet music, the link to the les quatre ages sonata (the first movement got me into his stuff) was broken! Cruel fate!

and you missed "ravel" oomph! so close! but no cookie for you! i understand why though, i think debussey is an alternate spelling to what i had in mind (debussy). so you took the y off and took the a off alkan.

so anyways, not much alkan? try:
1. le chemin der fer- a piano piece about a train? that's a first!
2. Le Grande Sonate Les Quatre Ages- The pieces are insanely difficult, but have a great structure and beauty to them.
3. His perpetum mobile etude for both hands-a continuous flow of 16th notes for both hands.
4. Etudes in Minor Keys
-Comme le Vent- an insane study in some furious fingerwork! 23 pages of prestissimamente 32nd(!) notes.
-Symphony for piano- A symphony written for the piano? enough said.
-Piano Concerto- the first movement is 72 pages long and has writings of perfection all over it.
-Aesop's Feast- a great study with 20 some variations on a single theme that ranges from ghastly terrible to melodically beautiful to regal and royal to gentle and soft and so on.
5. Esquisses- I read somewhere that this where debussy got his ideas of impressionism (he also appreciated him). Alkan wrote these pieces with a mood in mind to depict. the 48 pieces in this set range from large scale works to small sketches. The content goes from something like a sigh, a profound vision, to weird etude like pieces.

I think you can find a good amount of these pieces performed on youtube!

ps im still looking for the sheet music...

[Drummer06]

and you missed "ravel" oomph! so close! but no cookie for you!

Noooooo! How can It Be! .....Oh well.

Thanks for list of music. I will look into it.


Don't worry I will keep up the Search for the that piece. And have you tried Contacting the web
master of that Site? I would inquire him to see why that link does not work.


Always
D6

[juufa72]

Alkan is underrated. Some of his compositions are horrible in musical terms but masterpieces in technicality. This is why, I believe, that he is an underrated Romantic. His music doesn't touch as many musical souls as Chopin's did / does. Alkan is like a Liszt and Czerny...bombastic, flashy, and look at those fingers move! . Sure a handful of his pieces are beautiful in melody, but overall he is more techincal.

Of course this is my opinion. And is subjec to scrutiny.

[choliszgetibusselkan]

Why I oughta... I'm gonna ad hominem you to death!!! Alkan is!Alkan is- Just kidding.

I think a large part of his music is just technical fireworks, I mean his Major etudes I think I only liked 2 or 3 of them. And some of his other workouts... But that's say less than half in my opinion.

Alkan's technique was a terror even to Liszt! He said I think that he was absolutely stunned and swore he would be his rival. Anyways, he has prodigious technique. Why not show it off? That Descartes guy said that a great mind is nothing if not used, and I think the same goes with technique. Though, some of his most difficult works are some of the best pieces I've heard this side of the Romantic Era!

And in regards to Chopin. Alkan and Chopin were best friends and neighbors during their time in France. They would often play duets, share piano students (in fact Alkan took over Chopin's students after his death, very stricken), they would often exchange musical ideas and such. At least that's what those articles and that book about Chopin I read said. You know what Chopin was friends with a lot of composers, Mendelssohn, Alkan, Liszt, Schumann, Alkan, and a couple of others I don't care enough to remember. Chopin was a popular guy.

Speaking of Chopin, I love his music! There.

[Brewtality]

haha respect for going straight to da kan.

[juufa72]

But I would not call him the most underrated Romantic. There are lots of composers who fell out of the limelight. (Tausig for example)

[Drummer06]

What about Carl Nielsen, that Guy wrote such great Music.

[gavin_rossdale]

Personally I think Godowsky and Alkan are the most ignored great composers. I actually like Alkan's music about as much as Liszt's. They were my inspirations on learning how to play piano.