Hey, everyone listen to Liszt’s Rondeau Fantastique (S252) recorded recently by Lisitsa... and when the Goddess hits the last notes, immediately turn on THIS. Looks like it is bound to blend with each other! Finally, and equally difficult piece by Liszt has been found!
.
In memes:
Liszt: Charley, eat this! (Slaps him with a newly printed score of Rondeau.)
Alkan (giggling and scratching his beard): Challenge accepted!
11 years later
Alkan (waving a brand-new printout of Scherzo): Pwned! U jelly?
It is a digital work. Notes were put in some software (presumably Finale) and played. This piece is very exhausting and learning it live will consume much time even for virtuosos.
.
At 1:22, despite my convictions (the absence of them), the triumphal H dur creates the impression of a heaven on Earth, of a triumph of life and eternal existence. The whole piece is an angelic staircase.
If you think this is amazing check out the first movement of Alkan's Concerto for Colo Piano op. 39. Most people just notice the last movement and overlook the first movement. It's my favorite piece of music.
I just saw a new post on the Alkan Society by Lloyd Buck. His CD is coming out (hopefully) before Christmas this year, and it will include Scherzo Focoso! Everyone should buy it when it comes out. It includes other pieces including the Trois Andantes Op. 13, which also haven't been recorded by a human (according to the discography on the Alkan Society).
SORRY that I keep commenting on this video!!! But I found something very important! 7:42, is that a quote from the very end of Beethoven's 5th Symphony?
mmm, it is in a different key, plus beethoven uses more than just 2 chords as to say, Plus the type of ending is used in multiple pieces. ( end of rukisch march of mozart etc)
I am fully aware but I never had the time to change the information. I agree, the Concerto is going to be a lot harder but it's colossal compared to this! I love Le Preux but I find this piece a little more intriguing for some reason and well, the right hand etude is just ridiculous.
Just so you know, this has already been recorded twice... Also , it's not that hard at all compared to some of Alkan's other works. Concerto for Solo Piano, Le Preux and etude op. 76 #2 are all much harder.
haha I knew it was but i can't believe my two hands with ten long but slim fingers can do such a very fast piece. my arms hurt especially on leaps.. does this piece have it?
oh well, I guess I will end up on listening it rather than playing it. 'coz i could barely play it!
I get the slightest hunch that you won't want to throw yourself at this piece for another decade. It would take a deft mind and incredibly consistent clarity to even make this sound like music.
I have heard (in real life too) pianists my age perform Alborada del Gracioso, Ondine, Ballade 4, Mezeppa, and yes Rach 3 very well. I myself play Le Tombeau de Couperin, Chopin Ballade 2, and Beethoven Sonata Op. 22. Surely this isn't much more difficult, right? I mean, I know it takes a lot of practice, but so do all the other pieces I listed.
I spent some time on the first part (up to 2:02) and although it takes practice (like any other substancial piece), it came no slower than any of the other pieces I play. The handcrossing is actually more awkward to read than to play... once you get it memorized in your head/hands, it's just slow practice from there until it becomes smooth and fluid. And this piece is FUN for me to practice.
@Lukecash12 I am quite sure rach 3 is immensley more difficult than this piece. Not only technically, but interpretivley it is very demanding. Have you looked at the score to the 3rd movement?
@88alan8800 Yes, yes I have. Rach 3 immensely more difficult? Please explain why and how you have come to this conclusion. It doesn't have nearly as much handcrossing.
@88alan8800 Now my brain hurts. Isn't hand crossing of that magnitude difficult for everyone? That's like saying for some people there is absolutely no such thing as a speed wall.
@OrangeSodaKing Well, if you can divide up the strings and wind sounds in your head, maybe find some parts for horns, it would sound (if slowed down) quite a bit like an early classical symphony.
I haven't really tried practicing the hand-crossing part as written because it's so much easier to play with control if it's L-L-R-R-R-L, especially when the melody comes in. But that gets into the whole sounding-good-versus-being-correct thing, which most people have their minds made up on beforehand anyway.
This is awesome...so awesome that I became obsessed, found the scores in the Petrucci online library, honed in on the parts that sounded like misclicks, and discovered that they infact were misclicks. The most egregious is the erroneous minor chord that begins the coda. But altogether it's very impressive work.
It is, because I´ve played scherzo no 1 and 2. I find the op 34 more difficult because of all the "hidden" technique, look at the left hand for example, it is jumping alot, thats is a technique that I didn´t really realize at the first time, then in the coda the hands is crossing in a lot of diffrent ways, in MY opinion this is harder than any chopin scherzo. Why do you believe that op,34 isn´t harder then any of the chopin scherzo??
Because the technical difficulties that Alkan throw at the pianist are not HARDER, just different... We're not used to them. So if you're not used to the kind of arpeggios he uses or the octave leaps (which yes they come a little faster than you would think, same with the hand crossing), it would take much slow practice at first, but it'll still fall into the hands and under the fingers just fine.
Scherzo #3. I believe the Alkan Scherzo is harder than #2 and probably #1, and I don't know #4 quite as well, but I tried Scherzo #3 and it kicked my butt. The Alkan Scherzo is coming faster.
And the part that's giving me the most trouble in the Alkan Scherzo is NOT the octave leaps or hand crossing, but the way he does the 16th note arpeggios. Those are almost as transparent as Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, and playing those uneven would REALLY stand out.
I just printed out the score, and am attempting it. Right now, I've just got the first 5 pages, and it's not as bad as I thought it would be, at 1:22 and 1:38 of this video. I wouldn't say it's much harder than Chopin's Scherzos. And the hand-crossing frenzy in the coda isn't as bad as it looks too. My teacher is knowledeable about Alkan, so hopefully he'll let me study this work for competitions, recitals, and auditions.
ALKAN! The GREATEST composer of the 21st century!! What a Masterpiece! It has that French "Elan!" Now I know why R. Schumann couldn't appreciate Alkan...but Liszt and Chopin did...
No, I really do mean the 21st century, because Alkan is SO underplayed that it's as if we have discovered a great new composer, and also, since his melodies and compositions are so little known they sound fresh and novel; just what we need for the 21st century!
That's an excellent question; I don't think I have the answer right now...It's possible that Liszt or Wagner would suffice as the Romantic era's (post-Beethoven) composer of the ages analogous to Bach for the pre-classical. After all, an age really only needs one or two composers; the question then becoming what determines or distinquishes an "age." But Alkan is REFRESHING or NOVEL because he is so little known...in some things, he DID surpass Chopin and Liszt, but over all, he probably didn't.
I am a big fan of Alkan and have played a few of his works and in my opinion this piece is not a good representation of Alkan. Hard, yes, but very repetitive with almost no development of technical figurations or thematic material throughout. Although this is a computer player i have to say, i dont think a human player could really add too much to this peice. BORING.
@123eldest I made that comment a while ago, I have since concluded that the piece does offer some interest, but most of it is in the coda. This computerized version certainly does not do the piece justice, and if you do not find this performance boring then could you give reasons for your opinion? This piece has not been recorded by anyone who knows what they are doing, so I assume you mean that this performance, or the other digital and amateur ones are what you base your opinion on.
@88alan8800 Indeed I mean this digital recording of the piece. I just think the strict tempo and mechanical sound complements this kind of piece, sure a decent human performance will be better but it won't be necessarily more interesting. I have listened to this piece many times, I listened to it a few times a day when I first heard it and it never struck me as boring. I understand how one could think it is though.
I have a different midi of this (and I've heard it a thousand times so I've got it pretty much burned into my skull), there are different notes here and there and I'd say this Raden's version doesn't sound correct, the occasional disharmony as opposed to the midi I know is really distracting...
if do a digital work, do it right - that's the beauty of it: you can edit the roll or "photoshop" your performance, correct mistakes, adjust the tempo and/or dynamics of whole parts... so why not do it?
@MajesticFerret Not just hard in the sense of technique, but he'd also do things such as not do key signature changes - he'd "simply" (if that's the correct term for it) write in a different key than was in the key signature. Double sharps and flats abound.
Does anybody know what expression marking is given on top of the word PEDALE (pg 19) at the beginning of the the f sharp pedal point? Only the bottom half of the word is visible. Im sure its important for the feel of the section and will help us play it. Any ideas?
I look forward to hearing a person play this. The problem is there is no emotions done by the computer in this case, although the piece is so beautiful.
I think Rådén is to be applauded for what must have been a Herculean effort. It sounds so good, I wonder how a real pianist would be able to do any better.
I know a lot of this on guitar actually, the opening section and the long arpeggio section. The annoying part is that the piece always ends up out of the register of a 24 fret guitar. When I get a camera I will post the parts I know.
The coda to this piece is crazy! I love the long-held pedal note. It seems to involve some impressive acrobatics - constant crossing of hands as well as some pretty tricky articulation in bringing out the theme above the pedal once it comes crashing back into the mix. Such a perfect build up, though I have to say that what comes after the climax is a bit of an anticlimax, ironically.
:) I've subscribed to your channel. I love the work you've done bringing us this amazing music of Alkan. I am kinda on a mission to learn the complete solo piano works of Alkan...but its a good thing im not in a hurry lol...cuz it will take a while...thanks again
:) I can only imagine how fun it is to play Alkan! I really need to get practicing on my piano playing. Anyways it's 5:30 A.M here in Montreal and I'm slightly tipsy but I should have the Sonatine Op. 61 up for you all by tomorrow afternoon!
He certainly does! I'm a huge fan of Hamelin's, he grew up in Verdun in Montreal, which is just a few kilometers drive from the suburbs where I live. I guess I'm just trying to keep it fresh, if I were to upload only Hamelin people might get a narrow view of Alkan's music and think I'm some fan-boy. The two Smith double CD's are absolutely phenomenal endeavors and I think they deserve some attention too!
Really! Thats awesome!...yes thats true. I look forward to hearing it. I have tons of Alkan CDs. I think your doing a great thing here...I think Alkan is not as well known as he should be. To me his music ranks among Liszt and Chopin
I love playing this piece<3 Those left-hand octaves is a really hard part. Haha the final chords are so fun, it just stands FFF FFF FFF FFF.... everywere:D:D
And I don't think this piece is unplayable at all. It sounds easier than Islamey or Gaspard de la Nuit. I mean, yes it is very difficult, but I'm sure it's just a LOT of slow practice. I mean, it has a lot of Liszt-like characteristics. It sounds really fun.
Trust me, i tried it with a sheet i printed out and the and the hand crossing is as ridiculous as Ravel's Scarbo, he basically wants your hands vertical for days and days.
Yeah, Alkan's pieces are very technically challenging. But fortunately, it doesn't require quite the color and touch for Scarbo. It may be a lot of notes, but overall, I'm sure it's still easier.
I'm not trying to take away from your working on this piece at all, though. Scarbo's the hardest standard repertoire... what I said really isn't saying much. I'm sure this piece is very difficult to play.
Your opinion is interesting, but i think it is harder to bring life to this kind of piece. By the same token i really wouldn't listen to anyone else play Bach besides Walter Giesking because of how sentimental he is.
Cody's right. Alkan is not as famous as Liszt or Chopin NOT because his music is so difficult, but because he doesn't explore harmonically as much as these composers did, and some of his music is hard to listen to. At least, that's what one concert pianist told me. Also, he said Alkan's music does not market well.
But I love Alkan's music. I love his sound. I think a lot of his music is very pleasant (difficult too, but still in a way pleasant.)
I disagree with this assessment. One of the reasons in my opinion is the fact that he "completely" disappeared from the concert scene, went into recluse, and there were far more "present" composers who were right in the public eye to their evident satisfaction.
Additionally, may it also be said that marketing has a lot to do with success of a composer. Alkan's music does not market well in today's day and age in the same manner than solo piano music fails to market well. The same is true for the removal of 95% of all TV, radio, et al. shows that were available for decades prior that have been cut from mainstream access because they do not appeal to a target audience. In my opinion catering to the public detracts from musical authenticity.
(Perhaps more of a discussion with myself) but I would also point out that potentially another reason is a lot of alkan's work, particularily his program music is left untended leaving the public to view the few "exceptional" which the majority reject due to it being "too difficult" or "not harmonic enough" or whatever. An excellent example is allegro barbaro (op35.5) which is naught more than a simplistic etude with little flavor by comparison to his other works--which was intentional.
Yes, in that sense I find Alkan to be a bid like Bach. The best pianist of his day, but lacking in passion of the order of Rachmaninoff, Liszt or Chopin.
Not to say that this piece is passionless, but it does not have that level.
Im sure there are a pretty good amount of people that can play this... Alkan has much harder pieces. Not that it is by any means easy! (I couldn't manage it) I wonder why no one has recorded it
Just to update the comment I made on Comments page 1, this is being recorded by a young English pianist this year and the disc will hopefully appear in the next year or two. Another British pianist has performed it recently in Cambridge, England. Just goes to show the piece, though almost incredibly hard, is not impossible - nothing is impossible!
There are thousands upon thousands of pages of unrecorded sheet music. If only I had half the talent of this pianist, I would contribute my time and effort to record compositions by obscure composers before they are lost entirely to time and cultural affection towards the "masters" (i.e. Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven).
I feel the same way. I go to my local sheet-music shop every couple of weeks. I buy tons of obscure sheet-music and try to find the hidden gems of unkown composers. Someday, when i feel my technique is accurate i will open a channel right here, dedicated to forgotten masterpieces!
Some people are just too intimidated to play Alkan, yet pieces which are much more difficult (like Liszt's "Transcedental Etudes) are played regularly.
I also believe so! The last time I was in America, I found about Alkan from a book by David Dubal (I think he is a pianist, can't remember). His music is of the most wonderful, imaginative, fiery, passionate sort! If I could play Alkan, I would play him regularly. My previous statement only emphasises that today's pianist's are cowards, with a few exceptions).
I'm highly anticipating the inevitable recording of this piece. This piece seems really tough because it's relentless, however there are so many capable pianists on the scene today who could pull if off.
I love Bach, everything he wrote was spectacular, Alkan is sort of my inspiration to push the limits on an instrument however.
I've decided not to try this piece any more, there are (relatively) easier Alkan pieces which i'm currently learning, and this piece has the most incredible ability to rape my wrists at even a slow tempo. Maybe another time...
I am considering learning this; I've obtained the sheet music and started on the first 2 pages, and I can see now I've gone a bit out of my depth. Still got the whole school holidays though.
Hey, everyone listen to Liszt’s Rondeau Fantastique (S252) recorded recently by Lisitsa... and when the Goddess hits the last notes, immediately turn on THIS. Looks like it is bound to blend with each other! Finally, and equally difficult piece by Liszt has been found!
.
In memes:
Liszt: Charley, eat this! (Slaps him with a newly printed score of Rondeau.)
Alkan (giggling and scratching his beard): Challenge accepted!
11 years later
Alkan (waving a brand-new printout of Scherzo): Pwned! U jelly?
f1f1s 2 months ago
is this a pianist or a paino player?
loboris1995 8 months ago
@loboris1995
It is a digital work. Notes were put in some software (presumably Finale) and played. This piece is very exhausting and learning it live will consume much time even for virtuosos.
.
At 1:22, despite my convictions (the absence of them), the triumphal H dur creates the impression of a heaven on Earth, of a triumph of life and eternal existence. The whole piece is an angelic staircase.
f1f1s 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Lloyd Buck's CD has been released now!!
OrangeSodaKing 8 months ago
Imagine what this would've sounded like if Horowitz had his hands on this :D
LongDriveChamp03 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
If you think this is amazing check out the first movement of Alkan's Concerto for Colo Piano op. 39. Most people just notice the last movement and overlook the first movement. It's my favorite piece of music.
youtube.com/watch?v=5hQ1D-6nZ7c
Hamelin is playing. Audio plus music
cedricrlongreen 1 year ago
Comment removed
cedricrlongreen 1 year ago
Wonderful! The depth and feeling put into the music allows this to be such a great work, even though played by computer.
thegreatapologist 1 year ago
I just saw a new post on the Alkan Society by Lloyd Buck. His CD is coming out (hopefully) before Christmas this year, and it will include Scherzo Focoso! Everyone should buy it when it comes out. It includes other pieces including the Trois Andantes Op. 13, which also haven't been recorded by a human (according to the discography on the Alkan Society).
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
I just read a page of youtube comments and didn't once see someone accused of being gay.
This feels... weird.
1seemore1 1 year ago 3
@1seemore1 well i accuse myself then!:)
mossfitz 1 year ago
@1seemore1 well ok i accuse myself then .))
mossfitz 1 year ago
SORRY that I keep commenting on this video!!! But I found something very important! 7:42, is that a quote from the very end of Beethoven's 5th Symphony?
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
@OrangeSodaKing
mmm, it is in a different key, plus beethoven uses more than just 2 chords as to say, Plus the type of ending is used in multiple pieces. ( end of rukisch march of mozart etc)
beckey707 1 year ago
great piece!
sometimes reminds a piece of beethoven
palpitamento 1 year ago
One wonders if Alkan wrote this as a challenge (or maybe a taunt) to pianists down through the ages.
Glencanon4au 2 years ago 4
Who would have thought this kind of music was on Youtube! Splendid!
jungian9111 2 years ago 4
I am fully aware but I never had the time to change the information. I agree, the Concerto is going to be a lot harder but it's colossal compared to this! I love Le Preux but I find this piece a little more intriguing for some reason and well, the right hand etude is just ridiculous.
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
Just so you know, this has already been recorded twice... Also , it's not that hard at all compared to some of Alkan's other works. Concerto for Solo Piano, Le Preux and etude op. 76 #2 are all much harder.
llamasownyou 2 years ago
The score is unreal!!! O_____O
Zebeldarebel 2 years ago
There's a good reason why that hasn't been recorded. It's the same reason why people don't live on the moon.
Jim341046 2 years ago 12
Dammit!
egyptian3rdeye 2 years ago 3
dahh~ how many hands does it required? LOL as if i could play somethin' like pro's piece...
haha..,.~!? when i listened it my face expressed mixed emotions..
i was either shocked, terrified,amazed, or whatever..
after 10 minutes of hearing it my mind spaced out and troubling last song syndrome..
it is stuck in my mind up to now!
O.O
WhyNne0w 2 years ago 2
Two hands. Promise.
But yes, I love listening to it over and over again. Grrrrrrrr piano teacher, let me study this piece under you!
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
haha I knew it was but i can't believe my two hands with ten long but slim fingers can do such a very fast piece. my arms hurt especially on leaps.. does this piece have it?
oh well, I guess I will end up on listening it rather than playing it. 'coz i could barely play it!
T-T *sob*
WhyNne0w 2 years ago
I get the slightest hunch that you won't want to throw yourself at this piece for another decade. It would take a deft mind and incredibly consistent clarity to even make this sound like music.
Lukecash12 1 year ago
I have heard (in real life too) pianists my age perform Alborada del Gracioso, Ondine, Ballade 4, Mezeppa, and yes Rach 3 very well. I myself play Le Tombeau de Couperin, Chopin Ballade 2, and Beethoven Sonata Op. 22. Surely this isn't much more difficult, right? I mean, I know it takes a lot of practice, but so do all the other pieces I listed.
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
I can attest at least that this is much more of challenge than Rach 3 or Beethoven's 20th sonata.
The entire time your stamina is being tested. Endless semiquavers and hand crossing.
Lukecash12 1 year ago
I spent some time on the first part (up to 2:02) and although it takes practice (like any other substancial piece), it came no slower than any of the other pieces I play. The handcrossing is actually more awkward to read than to play... once you get it memorized in your head/hands, it's just slow practice from there until it becomes smooth and fluid. And this piece is FUN for me to practice.
Have you tried this piece?
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
I've given it three attempts throughout my life. The first was excruciating, the second discouraging, and the third ecstatic.
To play the entire piece requires quite a bit of stamina. The hand crossing turns into mush if you can't sustain the utmost clarity.
Lukecash12 1 year ago
@Lukecash12 I am quite sure rach 3 is immensley more difficult than this piece. Not only technically, but interpretivley it is very demanding. Have you looked at the score to the 3rd movement?
88alan8800 1 year ago
@88alan8800 Yes, yes I have. Rach 3 immensely more difficult? Please explain why and how you have come to this conclusion. It doesn't have nearly as much handcrossing.
Lukecash12 1 year ago
@Lukecash12 Im sorry, I didnt realise hand crossing was a difficulty for you. Im not going to waste my time explaining this.
88alan8800 1 year ago
@88alan8800 Now my brain hurts. Isn't hand crossing of that magnitude difficult for everyone? That's like saying for some people there is absolutely no such thing as a speed wall.
Lukecash12 1 year ago
@Lukecash12 If that were the case, Debussy's "L'isle Joyeuse" would be more difficult than Rach 3 also. But is it?
From my messing around with this piece, I find the hardest parts to be the areas with the 16th notes, not the hand crossing.
On an unrelated note, how do you think this would sound orchestrated? :D
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
@OrangeSodaKing Well, if you can divide up the strings and wind sounds in your head, maybe find some parts for horns, it would sound (if slowed down) quite a bit like an early classical symphony.
Lukecash12 1 year ago
@88alan8800 I wouldn't say 'immensely', it is slightly harder.
123eldest 1 year ago
Comment removed
88alan8800 1 year ago
That said, go for it. Slave over it for all of us :)
Lukecash12 1 year ago 5
yeh i got that too^^
123eldest 2 years ago
Hey, are hard copies of this score rare? I can't find one anywhere, but someone had to have one in order to upload it onto IMSLP.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
Get a printer, binder and hole punch, then print it off IMSLP. There ya go, hard copy.
llamasownyou 2 years ago 4
I love the part at 5:06
llamasownyou 2 years ago 2
I haven't really tried practicing the hand-crossing part as written because it's so much easier to play with control if it's L-L-R-R-R-L, especially when the melody comes in. But that gets into the whole sounding-good-versus-being-correct thing, which most people have their minds made up on beforehand anyway.
sshuck 2 years ago
i also have made a digital version of scherzo focoso :D
hjiuhfhrehui 2 years ago
This is awesome...so awesome that I became obsessed, found the scores in the Petrucci online library, honed in on the parts that sounded like misclicks, and discovered that they infact were misclicks. The most egregious is the erroneous minor chord that begins the coda. But altogether it's very impressive work.
sshuck 2 years ago 5
it has ben recorded! :P
addeex1 2 years ago
But not by a professional. I really don't like the recording...
Lukecash12 2 years ago
niether do I but it´s still a recording -.-
addeex1 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
It's a step. I still believe it's not any more difficult than a Chopin Scherzo.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
It is, because I´ve played scherzo no 1 and 2. I find the op 34 more difficult because of all the "hidden" technique, look at the left hand for example, it is jumping alot, thats is a technique that I didn´t really realize at the first time, then in the coda the hands is crossing in a lot of diffrent ways, in MY opinion this is harder than any chopin scherzo. Why do you believe that op,34 isn´t harder then any of the chopin scherzo??
addeex1 2 years ago 4
Because the technical difficulties that Alkan throw at the pianist are not HARDER, just different... We're not used to them. So if you're not used to the kind of arpeggios he uses or the octave leaps (which yes they come a little faster than you would think, same with the hand crossing), it would take much slow practice at first, but it'll still fall into the hands and under the fingers just fine.
Plus, Jack Gibbons agrees with me.
¯\(o_°)/¯ . ¯\(°_o)/¯
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago 2
And what chopin scherzo do you mean then?
addeex1 2 years ago
Scherzo #3. I believe the Alkan Scherzo is harder than #2 and probably #1, and I don't know #4 quite as well, but I tried Scherzo #3 and it kicked my butt. The Alkan Scherzo is coming faster.
And the part that's giving me the most trouble in the Alkan Scherzo is NOT the octave leaps or hand crossing, but the way he does the 16th note arpeggios. Those are almost as transparent as Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, and playing those uneven would REALLY stand out.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
I wanna hear Hamelin try this one.
egyptianghetto56 2 years ago 28
@egyptianghetto56 why try ??? He'll do it easily
flouz2 1 year ago
@egyptianghetto56 try?! ;-)
vinni666 6 months ago
@egyptianghetto56 i wanna hear cziffra try this one :D.
xAnonymousss 2 months ago
Some time ago I asked Anders how he managed to virtually record this piece, problem is, his answer is too long to post here...
By the way, the last few bars the pedal should have been used, it is played too dry here.
This is one of my favorite pieces of Alkan, it is brilliant.
"The first and only performance of the Scherzo Focoso op.34 was at an Alkan Society recital on 6th May 1987, the pianist was Thomas Wakefield".
aslkfja 2 years ago 2
the last few bars, to correct, I actually meant the last few measures:)
aslkfja 2 years ago
I just printed out the score, and am attempting it. Right now, I've just got the first 5 pages, and it's not as bad as I thought it would be, at 1:22 and 1:38 of this video. I wouldn't say it's much harder than Chopin's Scherzos. And the hand-crossing frenzy in the coda isn't as bad as it looks too. My teacher is knowledeable about Alkan, so hopefully he'll let me study this work for competitions, recitals, and auditions.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago 4
I think you should change your title. Some brave soul has just posted a VIDEO!!!
Marcomedina 2 years ago 4
What an interesting piece. Excellent MIDI rendering too.
1fattyfatman 2 years ago 2
ALKAN! The GREATEST composer of the 21st century!! What a Masterpiece! It has that French "Elan!" Now I know why R. Schumann couldn't appreciate Alkan...but Liszt and Chopin did...
GaryPansey 2 years ago
20th century, not 21st.
;)
And even though I'm a big Alkan fan, I wouldn't say greatest. There were too many good composers by the time the 1800's rolled around. =)
But this piece is wonderful.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
@OrangeSodaKing
Poor doctah Alkan has eventually been put back in his 19th century! =D
f1f1s 10 months ago
21st? you mean 19th?
Rlaw2222 2 years ago
Dang. Oops.
Thanks for correcting me. =)
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
No, I really do mean the 21st century, because Alkan is SO underplayed that it's as if we have discovered a great new composer, and also, since his melodies and compositions are so little known they sound fresh and novel; just what we need for the 21st century!
GaryPansey 2 years ago 2
Hmm. So he's a composer for the ages?
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
That's an excellent question; I don't think I have the answer right now...It's possible that Liszt or Wagner would suffice as the Romantic era's (post-Beethoven) composer of the ages analogous to Bach for the pre-classical. After all, an age really only needs one or two composers; the question then becoming what determines or distinquishes an "age." But Alkan is REFRESHING or NOVEL because he is so little known...in some things, he DID surpass Chopin and Liszt, but over all, he probably didn't.
GaryPansey 2 years ago
I actually really like this piece
especially the little trills and the coda
staystilljason 2 years ago 3
Imagine Cziffra with this.
staystilljason 2 years ago 5
Yeah, he'd kick the technique of the midi in the ass, knowing Cziffra... lol...
hellomate639 2 years ago
well said!
88alan8800 2 years ago
Comment removed
kaki0genkin 2 years ago
Its been recorded now!! look it up here on youtube!!
marcinb7 2 years ago 5
I am a big fan of Alkan and have played a few of his works and in my opinion this piece is not a good representation of Alkan. Hard, yes, but very repetitive with almost no development of technical figurations or thematic material throughout. Although this is a computer player i have to say, i dont think a human player could really add too much to this peice. BORING.
88alan8800 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
your stupid
jodyfosterism 2 years ago
if you have an alternative opinion, why not state your case?
88alan8800 2 years ago
you're* Bad time to miss spell something. :P He isn't stupid. He just has an opoinion that is valid (Y)
BenjyTehJet 2 years ago 2
Hmm. I think it sounds very fun. Even though it's technically very difficult, I think it sounds very fun. I would like to study it when I'm older.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago 2
@88alan8800 This piece is not BORING!!
123eldest 1 year ago
@123eldest I made that comment a while ago, I have since concluded that the piece does offer some interest, but most of it is in the coda. This computerized version certainly does not do the piece justice, and if you do not find this performance boring then could you give reasons for your opinion? This piece has not been recorded by anyone who knows what they are doing, so I assume you mean that this performance, or the other digital and amateur ones are what you base your opinion on.
88alan8800 1 year ago
@88alan8800 Indeed I mean this digital recording of the piece. I just think the strict tempo and mechanical sound complements this kind of piece, sure a decent human performance will be better but it won't be necessarily more interesting. I have listened to this piece many times, I listened to it a few times a day when I first heard it and it never struck me as boring. I understand how one could think it is though.
123eldest 1 year ago
Alkan is the Da Vinci of virtuoso piano: He gives you extremely difficult puzzles for you to solve.
jasonextreme 2 years ago 7
damn how cool is this! but it doesnt feel like alkan. more like a beethoven sonata
anonymousQ45 2 years ago 4
I have a different midi of this (and I've heard it a thousand times so I've got it pretty much burned into my skull), there are different notes here and there and I'd say this Raden's version doesn't sound correct, the occasional disharmony as opposed to the midi I know is really distracting...
if do a digital work, do it right - that's the beauty of it: you can edit the roll or "photoshop" your performance, correct mistakes, adjust the tempo and/or dynamics of whole parts... so why not do it?
Nalsii 2 years ago 3
YES, please I would love to hear somebody play this. Good luck :)
ultracoolhomies 2 years ago
I´m thinking of uploading a recording of my playing this, should I?
addeex1 2 years ago
DO IT MAN!!! DO IT!!!
But seriously you definitely shouldn't. Ha ha Joke. You can actually play this? Get in (Y) record it :)
BenjyTehJet 2 years ago
Yeah maby:D Now I play it kinda half good. But just give me time!!! :D
addeex1 2 years ago
THERE IS NO TIME!! AAAAAAAAHH!!! Lol. Yeah get it mint and show us your blindingly virtuosic skills :D (Y)
BenjyTehJet 2 years ago
Yes lets see!
123eldest 2 years ago
Did this guy go out of his way to make pretty much all his songs ridiculously hard?
MajesticFerret 2 years ago 25
@MajesticFerret Nope. He was just that amazing. tbh - I think of him to be the greatest pianist of all time.
RSCPT 1 year ago
@MajesticFerret Not just hard in the sense of technique, but he'd also do things such as not do key signature changes - he'd "simply" (if that's the correct term for it) write in a different key than was in the key signature. Double sharps and flats abound.
PancakesoftheLove 1 year ago
Does anybody know what expression marking is given on top of the word PEDALE (pg 19) at the beginning of the the f sharp pedal point? Only the bottom half of the word is visible. Im sure its important for the feel of the section and will help us play it. Any ideas?
adamhzzk 2 years ago
what would Liszt say?!
kangoos2000 2 years ago
He would say it's too hard, as he often said about Alkan's works. Look it up if you don't believe me.
TheCrazyHairPianist 2 years ago 12
When Liszt himself terms a piece as hard, that must mean something.
Gothic1982 2 years ago 7
I look forward to hearing a person play this. The problem is there is no emotions done by the computer in this case, although the piece is so beautiful.
ultracoolhomies 2 years ago 12
I think Rådén is to be applauded for what must have been a Herculean effort. It sounds so good, I wonder how a real pianist would be able to do any better.
Zantorc 2 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
this is like the dragon force of all piano! AHH!
guth2391 2 years ago
I know a lot of this on guitar actually, the opening section and the long arpeggio section. The annoying part is that the piece always ends up out of the register of a 24 fret guitar. When I get a camera I will post the parts I know.
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
Alkan's music sounds, to me, quite "Mendelssohnian".
horatiodreamt 2 years ago 9
The coda to this piece is crazy! I love the long-held pedal note. It seems to involve some impressive acrobatics - constant crossing of hands as well as some pretty tricky articulation in bringing out the theme above the pedal once it comes crashing back into the mix. Such a perfect build up, though I have to say that what comes after the climax is a bit of an anticlimax, ironically.
4candles 2 years ago 12
This piece isn't unplayable...Its rather doable in fact.
This piece needs quite a bit of stamina to last til the end though!(I looked at the sheet music)
talonboy5432 2 years ago 13
If you want I will record it and show everybody it is indeed playable
watchman1718 2 years ago
Sure...Prove to the world!
talonboy5432 2 years ago
Okay I will...I performed it at my Senior Recital for my B.A. in Piano Performance
watchman1718 2 years ago
Go figure.
talonboy5432 2 years ago
I most definitely want.
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
Ok...it's been a few months since i played it....let me tidy it up and get my video camera out and I'll post it for you.
watchman1718 2 years ago
Woohoo :)!!
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
:) I've subscribed to your channel. I love the work you've done bringing us this amazing music of Alkan. I am kinda on a mission to learn the complete solo piano works of Alkan...but its a good thing im not in a hurry lol...cuz it will take a while...thanks again
watchman1718 2 years ago 2
Best of luck watchman! Keep us posted. :)
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
i will! I am halfway through with my preparations. I will have the video up shortly my friend. :D Wow is it alot of fun to play
watchman1718 2 years ago
:) I can only imagine how fun it is to play Alkan! I really need to get practicing on my piano playing. Anyways it's 5:30 A.M here in Montreal and I'm slightly tipsy but I should have the Sonatine Op. 61 up for you all by tomorrow afternoon!
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
Ooh I look forward to that!
watchman1718 2 years ago
Excellent! It is Ronald Smith's interpretation I will be posting. I've posted way too much Hamelin for the time being hehe.
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
lol hah although he does interpret Alkan well...Ronald Smith does very well too :)
watchman1718 2 years ago
He certainly does! I'm a huge fan of Hamelin's, he grew up in Verdun in Montreal, which is just a few kilometers drive from the suburbs where I live. I guess I'm just trying to keep it fresh, if I were to upload only Hamelin people might get a narrow view of Alkan's music and think I'm some fan-boy. The two Smith double CD's are absolutely phenomenal endeavors and I think they deserve some attention too!
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
Really! Thats awesome!...yes thats true. I look forward to hearing it. I have tons of Alkan CDs. I think your doing a great thing here...I think Alkan is not as well known as he should be. To me his music ranks among Liszt and Chopin
watchman1718 2 years ago 5
I love playing this piece<3 Those left-hand octaves is a really hard part. Haha the final chords are so fun, it just stands FFF FFF FFF FFF.... everywere:D:D
addeex1 2 years ago 9
And I don't think this piece is unplayable at all. It sounds easier than Islamey or Gaspard de la Nuit. I mean, yes it is very difficult, but I'm sure it's just a LOT of slow practice. I mean, it has a lot of Liszt-like characteristics. It sounds really fun.
OrangeSodaKing 3 years ago
Trust me, i tried it with a sheet i printed out and the and the hand crossing is as ridiculous as Ravel's Scarbo, he basically wants your hands vertical for days and days.
Lukecash12 2 years ago 4
Yeah, Alkan's pieces are very technically challenging. But fortunately, it doesn't require quite the color and touch for Scarbo. It may be a lot of notes, but overall, I'm sure it's still easier.
I'm not trying to take away from your working on this piece at all, though. Scarbo's the hardest standard repertoire... what I said really isn't saying much. I'm sure this piece is very difficult to play.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
Your opinion is interesting, but i think it is harder to bring life to this kind of piece. By the same token i really wouldn't listen to anyone else play Bach besides Walter Giesking because of how sentimental he is.
Lukecash12 2 years ago
Nothing to takeaway from your statement, though. Alkan and Ravel are two different monstrs entirely.
Lukecash12 2 years ago
Cody's right. Alkan is not as famous as Liszt or Chopin NOT because his music is so difficult, but because he doesn't explore harmonically as much as these composers did, and some of his music is hard to listen to. At least, that's what one concert pianist told me. Also, he said Alkan's music does not market well.
But I love Alkan's music. I love his sound. I think a lot of his music is very pleasant (difficult too, but still in a way pleasant.)
I don't think this piece is unplayable.
OrangeSodaKing 3 years ago
I disagree with this assessment. One of the reasons in my opinion is the fact that he "completely" disappeared from the concert scene, went into recluse, and there were far more "present" composers who were right in the public eye to their evident satisfaction.
Hellspire 3 years ago
Additionally, may it also be said that marketing has a lot to do with success of a composer. Alkan's music does not market well in today's day and age in the same manner than solo piano music fails to market well. The same is true for the removal of 95% of all TV, radio, et al. shows that were available for decades prior that have been cut from mainstream access because they do not appeal to a target audience. In my opinion catering to the public detracts from musical authenticity.
Hellspire 3 years ago
(Perhaps more of a discussion with myself) but I would also point out that potentially another reason is a lot of alkan's work, particularily his program music is left untended leaving the public to view the few "exceptional" which the majority reject due to it being "too difficult" or "not harmonic enough" or whatever. An excellent example is allegro barbaro (op35.5) which is naught more than a simplistic etude with little flavor by comparison to his other works--which was intentional.
Hellspire 3 years ago
Yes, in that sense I find Alkan to be a bid like Bach. The best pianist of his day, but lacking in passion of the order of Rachmaninoff, Liszt or Chopin.
Not to say that this piece is passionless, but it does not have that level.
CodyNelsonMusic 3 years ago
Not enough passion as Liszt or Chopin?!?!
Have you listened to his "Les Quatre Ages" Sonata?
And don't tell me that there is now passion in this memorable piece of art.
jasonextreme 2 years ago 8
I stand corrected.
CodyNelsonMusic 2 years ago
I have a feeling that it's this piece that made even Liszt envy Alkan's technique.
ExVash 3 years ago
Im sure there are a pretty good amount of people that can play this... Alkan has much harder pieces. Not that it is by any means easy! (I couldn't manage it) I wonder why no one has recorded it
ReclaimTheGlory 3 years ago
Just to update the comment I made on Comments page 1, this is being recorded by a young English pianist this year and the disc will hopefully appear in the next year or two. Another British pianist has performed it recently in Cambridge, England. Just goes to show the piece, though almost incredibly hard, is not impossible - nothing is impossible!
4candles 3 years ago 2
Certainly not impossible, playing it with one hand only i would say is impossible though.
123eldest 3 years ago
I'm sure if you had enough fingers on that one hand then it would be possible!
jiolsmolimassunemo 2 years ago
You're right nothing is impossible! I can't wait to hear the recording.
KeithWhalen11 3 years ago
There are thousands upon thousands of pages of unrecorded sheet music. If only I had half the talent of this pianist, I would contribute my time and effort to record compositions by obscure composers before they are lost entirely to time and cultural affection towards the "masters" (i.e. Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven).
juufa72 3 years ago 4
I feel the same way. I go to my local sheet-music shop every couple of weeks. I buy tons of obscure sheet-music and try to find the hidden gems of unkown composers. Someday, when i feel my technique is accurate i will open a channel right here, dedicated to forgotten masterpieces!
HooksGambit 3 years ago 2
not a bad idea, care to share any decent pieces with me?
123eldest 3 years ago 2
Some people are just too intimidated to play Alkan, yet pieces which are much more difficult (like Liszt's "Transcedental Etudes) are played regularly.
eristaviserbia 3 years ago
mmm, no, most of alkan's music is much harder than Liszt's transcedental etudes.
OrangeSodaKing 3 years ago 2
I also believe so! The last time I was in America, I found about Alkan from a book by David Dubal (I think he is a pianist, can't remember). His music is of the most wonderful, imaginative, fiery, passionate sort! If I could play Alkan, I would play him regularly. My previous statement only emphasises that today's pianist's are cowards, with a few exceptions).
eristaviserbia 3 years ago 2
I'm not he biggest fan of Hamelin, but i wonder why he hasn't recorded this piece, or maybe he has and i just don't know it...
Lukecash12 3 years ago
I'll be the first one to record this, as soon as I finish the Rhapsody.
CodyNelsonMusic 3 years ago
I AM BACK.
ReturnOfTheStienway 3 years ago
holy cow?
Pimba28 3 years ago
One day soon my inner masochist will get the better of me, I'll learn the piece, and kiss any sanity I have left goodbye.
sirrobertmorton 3 years ago 4
its not recorded well the part that sounds like a waltz is actually slower and not fast. where did you get the midi?
mvs1312 3 years ago
interesting piece :)
I wonder whos gonna record this first. Alkan's piano solos are crazy ass hard so I personally stick with Beethoven and Bach xD
ManWithManyShurikens 3 years ago
I'm highly anticipating the inevitable recording of this piece. This piece seems really tough because it's relentless, however there are so many capable pianists on the scene today who could pull if off.
I love Bach, everything he wrote was spectacular, Alkan is sort of my inspiration to push the limits on an instrument however.
KeithWhalen11 3 years ago
Im afraid that no recording will be as good as this though :/
123eldest 3 years ago
I don't know about that. Open minded interpretation defeats absolutely perfect playing.
Lukecash12 3 years ago
I've decided not to try this piece any more, there are (relatively) easier Alkan pieces which i'm currently learning, and this piece has the most incredible ability to rape my wrists at even a slow tempo. Maybe another time...
mickyj300x 3 years ago
Haha, well good luck on the other Alkan pieces. If you ever get around to it though I would love to hear it!
KeithWhalen11 3 years ago
don't give up on it completely. i have also started learning it =]. His Prelude in Eb major sounds nice and seems relatively easy.
123eldest 3 years ago
Try some of his Esquisses, such as Morituri te Salutant, or his Contradanse. Those one are a LOT easier than his Eb prelude.
mickyj300x 3 years ago
k thanks
123eldest 3 years ago
Is it me or is there a bar missing at 2:26?
123eldest 3 years ago
wow i just have to keep playing this. this is just amazing
123eldest 3 years ago
I am considering learning this; I've obtained the sheet music and started on the first 2 pages, and I can see now I've gone a bit out of my depth. Still got the whole school holidays though.
mickyj300x 3 years ago
I just re-listened along with the score.
Beyond Belief!
Excellent Digitization!!!
Keep posting.
GaryPansey 3 years ago 5