Ronald Smith plays Alkan: Chant in E Major Op. 38a No. 1

[amxmachine]

which do you like more? this or no 6 from this opus?

[OrangeSodaKing]

@amxmachine Both are fantastic... I feel that this is more inspiring, of course the G Minor Barcarolles are always fascinating and there is SO much to them in such simplistic-sounding music. It's hard for me to compare. :)

[f1f1s]

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..."

[brianCIM]

@f1f1s you took the words right out of my mouth. if you have watched that terrific documentary it makes this even more haunting.

[OrangeSodaKing]

@brianCIM That documentary is what introduced me to this piece!! :D

[Sorcerer88]

smith's rubato is indeed peculiar, but i can't say i don't like it. interesting performance of an awesome piece!

[madlovba2]

That's a very nice version. To be totally honest, his rubato sometimes sounds a bit uncomfortable for me, but as far as his dynamics are concerned, I like it more than Gibbons'. It's so great to hear more recordings of this fabulous piece and compare them, thanks a lot for posting! ;) Are there any more recordings of this? (As far as I know Hamelin hasn't recorded it, what a pity...)

[OrangeSodaKing]

@madlovba2 Google "Lloyd Buck", go to his website, and click on "pianist", and scroll down to the mp3 files. Christine Stevenson recorded it but only a 30 second sample is available to listen on her website. Alan Weiss also recorded it on a CD called "Alkan: Piano Works, Volume 2, and it's available on iTunes (I don't have it yet, but I will get it.) And Osamu Nakamura (also known as Osamu Kanazawa) recorded it, but good luck finding that! Maybe kake0genkin or felipesarro here on YouTube has it.

[madlovba2]

@OrangeSodaKing Right! I checked Lloyd Buck's, his version is really dreamy, I may post it some day (or you would like to post it? ;). I've heard of him before, he was going to make an official recording of Scherzo Focoso if I'm not mistaken; do you know anything about that one?? I'd LOVE to hear his Alkan disc! :) I listened to Christine Stevenson's as well, it's very good, I'm looking forward to hearing more by her, too ;) As for Weiss and Nakamura, I'll have to search a little bit more :P

[FlyingBlackAndWhite]

Alkan Alkan more Alkan!

[Waechter59]

Comme un chant majeur de poésie à l'air libre,merci pour la découverte et le partage !