It was at a small local music festival in a village, so to be honest I didn't expect much of a turnout. There were actually more like 25 there, but they were all dotted around the gardens in which my performance took place, so the applause is very scattered.
I improvise a lot. In this case I had improvised on the themes quite a bit, then tried to write a musical summary of what was going on in the various improvised manipulations of themes, prune the bits that I felt were superfluous and put together the various sections into a coherent structure (at this point I did compose linking sections where necessary). Perhaps it would be more correct to start by defining the structure first, I don't know.
Great composition! I enjoyed especially the very virtuoso, technically demanding passages. However, I must comment that the first half of your composition had very repetitive harmonic structures and could do with a little more modulation into foreign keys. You do make up for this with very contrasting thematic manipulation though. (I am a composer myself.) It does sound very Lisztian indeed.
True - the harmonic structure is not very sophisticated, being effectively just major-minor-major. It's possible that I would have done that aspect differently had I, strictly speaking, "composed" it, as opposed to having based the piece on a series of improvisatory variations on themes.
(cont.) Glad you enjoyed it, though. I'm not surprised it sounds Lisztian - many of the variations were done very much "in the style" of various Liszt and Thalberg operatic paraphrases, music for which I have a considerable fondness.
Thanks. I don't have full sheet music to this, as it originated from an improvisation. Some day I will transcribe the full composition into sheet music form, but it is time-consuming to do so.
There's no cd of this performance; however I do have an mp3 taken from a performance at a previous recital (much better sound quality, and I also think I played it better in the mp3). I'll try to upload it tonight and send you a download link.
Correct. I thought the two themes (one major, one minor) fitted together quite well and improvised around them. Btw, Liszt's La Somnambula transcription is really quite tricky (especially the trills with 4/5 in both hands).
Bach did it in the past and transcribed many pieces from other composers without mentioning that it is not his theme.After all you are a musician and you have the right to do that.I have to congratulate you for the way you arranged this and you play the piano,you technique is very good and advanced.I now saw the text you wrote when you posted the video,there you mentioned Thalberg and Liszt.In the first time i watched the video i did not see those comments.Sorry if i insulted you in any way.
No, I am not insulted. To be honest I am just happy that you enjoyed the video. And it is good to encounter someone who has familiarity with such obscure music as Thalberg's Don Pasquale.
This is not yours at all.In fact you use parts from Simgund Thalberg's Fantasia su Don Pasquale di Donizetti.It is a shame that people simply steal themes and whole passages from the old composers and claim it is their composition.
No, I use the same thematic material as my principal theme, but my figurations and ornamentation of the theme are different from Thalberg's. Thalberg's first ornamentation of the theme is primarily scalic, being based on a pattern of descending broken thirds. Subsequently he uses a combination of arpeggiated and scalic figuration. I agree there are some stylistic similarities, but the ornamentation is considerably different (for starters, Thalberg's is a lot harder to play).
And as for taking a theme from opera, that's exactly what Thalberg did when he wrote Don Pasquale, and I don't see why I can't take the theme also and manipulate it. Btw, the minor theme is more or less taken from Bellini's La Somnambula. Still, no offence taken.. I'm impressed that you knew the Thalberg Fantasia in question.
Nice composition and nicely performed. 5 stars!
I am not a composer but I like to make improvisations in styles of composers.
Please listen to my Rachmaninovstyle happy birthday improvisation. Thanks in advance
michieldpiano 2 years ago
Why are there only like 10 people in the audience? Certainly you deserve a larger crowd.
georgecziffra 2 years ago
It was at a small local music festival in a village, so to be honest I didn't expect much of a turnout. There were actually more like 25 there, but they were all dotted around the gardens in which my performance took place, so the applause is very scattered.
alkanliszt 2 years ago
Bravo!!
jjjmaris08 3 years ago
.. playback.
zvegasz 3 years ago
Absolutely amazing. I'd pay to see this!
naixoa 3 years ago
Very nice composition! I like this type of playing because it is very relaxing! Great job. And of course..... I love your Steinway!!!!!!!!!!!!
Essexpianos 3 years ago
NICE piano~!!!and of course, nice playing!
megasanaii 4 years ago
This is absolutely excellent.
As well as two you mentioned (especially Thalberg), this piece reminds me of Debussy at points.
elevenwhy 4 years ago
You are a great pianist already. Bravo!!
felix0911176727 4 years ago
Man that was insane. A great performace :)
Iain
TheSixxMan 4 years ago
truly awesome and addictive. i should really take lessons from this video for my next compositions!
dryst420 4 years ago
hey alkan liszt i really admire your composition. may i ask how u first went about composing? thank u :)
miniq2004 4 years ago
I improvise a lot. In this case I had improvised on the themes quite a bit, then tried to write a musical summary of what was going on in the various improvised manipulations of themes, prune the bits that I felt were superfluous and put together the various sections into a coherent structure (at this point I did compose linking sections where necessary). Perhaps it would be more correct to start by defining the structure first, I don't know.
alkanliszt 4 years ago
great, thats in favourates
therichienator 4 years ago
Very nice^_^
angel12341369 4 years ago
Absolutely brilliant! This is very Liszt-esque :) I quite enjoyed this performance.
Bonnie83 4 years ago
Great composition! I enjoyed especially the very virtuoso, technically demanding passages. However, I must comment that the first half of your composition had very repetitive harmonic structures and could do with a little more modulation into foreign keys. You do make up for this with very contrasting thematic manipulation though. (I am a composer myself.) It does sound very Lisztian indeed.
zeryx28 4 years ago
True - the harmonic structure is not very sophisticated, being effectively just major-minor-major. It's possible that I would have done that aspect differently had I, strictly speaking, "composed" it, as opposed to having based the piece on a series of improvisatory variations on themes.
alkanliszt 4 years ago
(cont.) Glad you enjoyed it, though. I'm not surprised it sounds Lisztian - many of the variations were done very much "in the style" of various Liszt and Thalberg operatic paraphrases, music for which I have a considerable fondness.
alkanliszt 4 years ago
Bravo! Will you publish the music sheets?
nunoasousa 4 years ago
Thanks. I don't have full sheet music to this, as it originated from an improvisation. Some day I will transcribe the full composition into sheet music form, but it is time-consuming to do so.
alkanliszt 4 years ago
sound kind of impresionist
frijolito999 4 years ago
Bravo!
moooingcow 4 years ago
does anyone knows a cd I can buy referred to this performance? it's awesome, and romantic too
rpagliari 5 years ago
There's no cd of this performance; however I do have an mp3 taken from a performance at a previous recital (much better sound quality, and I also think I played it better in the mp3). I'll try to upload it tonight and send you a download link.
alkanliszt 5 years ago
I recognize a part of theme of "la sonnambula" with was transcribed by liszt too.
Masatsu 5 years ago
Correct. I thought the two themes (one major, one minor) fitted together quite well and improvised around them. Btw, Liszt's La Somnambula transcription is really quite tricky (especially the trills with 4/5 in both hands).
alkanliszt 5 years ago
Bach did it in the past and transcribed many pieces from other composers without mentioning that it is not his theme.After all you are a musician and you have the right to do that.I have to congratulate you for the way you arranged this and you play the piano,you technique is very good and advanced.I now saw the text you wrote when you posted the video,there you mentioned Thalberg and Liszt.In the first time i watched the video i did not see those comments.Sorry if i insulted you in any way.
nikodr 5 years ago
No, I am not insulted. To be honest I am just happy that you enjoyed the video. And it is good to encounter someone who has familiarity with such obscure music as Thalberg's Don Pasquale.
alkanliszt 5 years ago
This is not yours at all.In fact you use parts from Simgund Thalberg's Fantasia su Don Pasquale di Donizetti.It is a shame that people simply steal themes and whole passages from the old composers and claim it is their composition.
nikodr 5 years ago
No, I use the same thematic material as my principal theme, but my figurations and ornamentation of the theme are different from Thalberg's. Thalberg's first ornamentation of the theme is primarily scalic, being based on a pattern of descending broken thirds. Subsequently he uses a combination of arpeggiated and scalic figuration. I agree there are some stylistic similarities, but the ornamentation is considerably different (for starters, Thalberg's is a lot harder to play).
alkanliszt 5 years ago
And as for taking a theme from opera, that's exactly what Thalberg did when he wrote Don Pasquale, and I don't see why I can't take the theme also and manipulate it. Btw, the minor theme is more or less taken from Bellini's La Somnambula. Still, no offence taken.. I'm impressed that you knew the Thalberg Fantasia in question.
alkanliszt 5 years ago
Very good. You have achieved many of the techniques I'm working on now. Good to see them in action!
jsthorne24 5 years ago
Very nice played...and this peace is very nice too ;)
kapsico 5 years ago
Wow that was amazing
damn wind... haha
Do you have a website where i can get sheet music?
if not can u email me the sheet music?
great music man I'm gonna check later to see if you put up anything new
winterwind 5 years ago
Sorry, I don't have proper sheet music for this (in its original form it was improvised and subsequently it has sort of evolved from that).
alkanliszt 5 years ago
that really pretty
bravo
Mozartina 5 years ago