Alkan - Esquisse No. 45 "Les diablotins"

Esquisses Op. 63 No. 45 "Les diablotins"

Quoted from Ronald Smith's 'Alkan, the Man, the Music': "It was Sorabji who first drew attention to the extraordinary appearance of Alkan's music on the printed page. No. 45 Les diablotins (imps) would certainly fit his description of 'an entirely novel and unfamiliar system of decorative design'. The example of Berlioz could easily be held responsible for the fanfare-like opening with its jeering embellishments, just as Henry Cowell would surely have answered for the continuous pattern of mocking tone-clusters had he not inconveniently been born ten years after Alkan's death!"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• alkan
• liszt
• chopin

[juufa72]

Why hasn't Alkan gained more popularity?

[Hexameron]

It's baffling. Busoni called Alkan one of the greatest piano composers after Beethoven and ranked him along side Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, and Brahms.

One reason for Alkan's obscurity might be that many in the past and even today have dismissed him as nothing more than a technician; Schumann was one, but judging from his reviews, it appears he made only a superficial examination of Alkan's music.

[staystilljason]

clusters :D!

[Hexameron]

I wonder what amateur pianists in 1861 thought after buying this from the local music store and trying it at home...

[Chopianist3]

I completely agree, I love Chopin, but I've completely fallen for Alkan, I have NO idea why isn't just as famous as Liszt or Chopin

[BassicStorm]

@Hexameron lol??? xD comparing Schuman and Alkan at the piano is just funny... Your last sentence is a nonsense

[Cantormatis]

@Hexameron Don't forget, sadly, that Schumann was also an anti-semite, and Alkan was a Jew.

[2hyeok]

easiest to hardest

[2hyeok]

Lang Lang ordinary people ordinary pianists ordinary composers Easy Medium Hard Very Hard Chuck norris Liszt Schubert/chopin liszt alkan Hexameron

[025bb6mm]

I THING!!! that the main reason why Alkan is so unknown is(was) his character.

He left WORLD at his forty years old I thing. He was big LONER(from his forties), misanthropist(he didi´t like people at all) and propably misogynist(enemy of womans) So it´s OK that is uknown becouse he WASN´T ABLE TO sell his works enought. And now in our era is impossible to make Alkan FAMOUS. It is too late for it..... BUT I LOVE HIM.!!!!!

[benkissinger]

Seems Alkan isn't widely known because he wasn't widely known. He was reclusive, he was one of few people in history who could play his music, his music is darker and more consistently dark than that of most composers, and he was Jewish.

The sketches - 34's my favorite - are abundant proof that their was simply beautiful music at the heart of much of his beautiful technical squalls.

[lamaman94]

Oh come on, grow up people!! Yes, Liszt is a great artist, and Chopin's works are harmonic and beautiful, bla bla bla... it is indeed somewhat understandable, that Alkan remained in obscurity. Let it be, but as long as there are some pianists and listeners who appreciate his music, it will survive!! And I hope it will, because I like it! The ones who think Alkan is bad are just one click away from listening to something different. It's really not that much of a hard work.

[Laudan08]

I was totally entertained... Then i saw the ending.

WTF!

[Emanresu56]

In my opinion it's not at all baffling why Alkan was forgotten, it seems perfectly plausible that Alkan was just one of those composers who was overlooked, just as there are plenty of other historical figures who are overlooked.