JS Bach/Alkan: 'Siciliano' from Sonata for flute and keyboard in E-flat major, BWV 1031

[OrangeSodaKing]

Beautiful!! I want to play this.

[4candles]

@OrangeSodaKing I agree - it's a gorgeous arrangement.

[normish]

Anybody has any leas on finding the sheet music for this?

[4candles]

@normish I've sent you a message with a link.

[thecatsman]

I have the 5th on CD, and have been getting at Tom a bit - surely it deserves to be better-known, but who can play it? He wants also to give live masterclasses on the web, but the technicalities are a bit beyond me. Forgive my manners in not replying - I don't use the hotmail a/c where your message came. I would, however like to know a bit about you beyond YT. My machine is not performing at the moment, but I shall be back to hear more. Bob

[4candles]

Thank you for your comment - I am in agreement. Perhaps a young, enterprising pianist (someone like Danny Driver for example?) would like to take up the challenges that Thomas' transcription makes on the performer.

I worry slightly that, like myself in some way, Mr Wakefield is too modest a fellow to delve further into his own furtherance by going live on the web. It is also very probable that he has little time to do this anyway.

We live in hope!

[thecatsman]

With minor corrections to phrasing here and there, this performance should be a must-have for lovers of this wonderful, timeless, and beautiful music. What feeling Penny draws from this great transcription, I am so proud to be associated in a minor way with both Penny and her teacher at the time of this recording - one Thomas Wakefield of Manchester. Thank you both.

[4candles]

Thanks for your response.

I met Thomas recently at a recital in London. He is vastly under-represented and appreciated only by those who have had the privilege to hear him play. I would love it if he had more professional exposure because he plays magnificently.

He sent me a recording of his own piano transcription of Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony - it's absolutely fabulous!

[deviantrake]

This is really beautiful, never heard it before so big thanks to you!

[4candles]

I've only heard this arrangement a couple of times by different pianists, but when I first heard it, I was struck by the simplicity of the transcription and its emotional depth. Bach was a real master and Alkan a superb transcriber!

Several other arrangements of this piece exist, by Wilhelm Kempff, Ignacy Friedman and Alexander Siloti (among others probably) - all to be found on the Hyperion label - but I think I prefer this version above the others.

[4candles]

It's so isolated. You can almost imagine Alkan playing this, sitting alone in his apartment. You can almost imagine him escaping from his world for a brief moment through this piece.