Alkan Nocturne in B Major Op. 22 - Sorcerer88

A beautiful piece by a forgotten master (not me ^^), that can in my opinion stand beside the famous nocturnes of chopin.

What makes it difficult to play this is the fact that the entire accompaniment is written as trioles to the right hand melody, so that it's hard to play both fluently and evocatively together all the time. I'm also not sure about the dynamics in some places and some mistakes, 2 of them quite audible, inevitably crept in, but otherwise i'm quite satisfied with this recording.

I highly reccommend other Alkan recordings on Youtube of more exciting pieces (short paragraph about him on the bottom):

Op. 35 No 5 Etude Allegro Barbaro - Jack Gibbons
As the name says, a brutal, barbaric octave etude that might seem of little substance. This is exactly the kind of thing Alkan is criticized for. Make your own picture!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA0XVVNJoFM

Op. 39 No 7 Symphony for Solo Piano - Finale - Hamelin
A furious end to a suite that makes an orchestra out of the piano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n56OZBbpi5Y

Alkan Grande Etude Duet
A breathtaking recording of an etude that combines its previous two etudes for the left hand and the right hand separately, with each of the players playing one of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XIx0ILXODw

Alkan documentary! 45 minutes long, featuring many of his pieces (including this nocturne) and a lot of info. highly reccommended!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSpKgQieegU

Hamelin Etude No. 4 d'après Alkan
probably first ever live recording of a hellishly difficult, but awesome tribute to Alkan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfQ-usrUHMc

Op. 39 No 12 Festin de Esope
A set of variations on a typically wicked, dark theme of Alkan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQRlaADnZhw

Op. 33 Grande Sonate "Les quatres ages" - 30 ans Quasi-Faust Orchestrated
Basically just a midi-file, but a brilliant arrangement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCKMtcv1nOc

Op. 31 No 8 Prelude La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer
An ingenious prelude called "Song of the Madwoman on the Sea Shore", consider the title while listening!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO80Ras4dXE

here's my playlist with all of these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A73773FA5DE866E0

Charles-Valentin Alkan is today nearly unknown as a composer, despite his beautiful miniatures and virtuous concert etudes. This virtuosity he demands in many pieces, his secluded life as a jewish composer and the lack of popularity and recognition in his times he was ahead of musically probably contributed to that. Even as a neighbour and friend of chopin, aquaintance and perhaps rival of Liszt and child prodigy, his career suffered failure after failure, often undeserved and unlucky. So much for the background info for now, if you'd like to know more, you should watch the excellent documentary about him linked below, or read Jack Gibbons' article:
http://www.jackgibbons.com/alkanmyths.htm


sheet music for the piece:
http://imslp.org/images/0/0e/Alkan_Op22_Nocturne.pdf

Category:

Music

Tags:

• charles-valentin
• charles
• valentin
• alkan
• piano
• nocturne
• op.
• op
• 22
• major

[brianCIM]

hey Simon. i like your tone. what kind of piano is that. BTW, Besides the playing which was good i thought your little annotations were hysterical. HAHA....Jazz?.....Alkan and art tatum are smiling down on you. lol

[Sorcerer88]

@brianCIM hah, thanks! the tone could probably be a bit softer though. the piano is a Bettich, an independent manufacturer in northern germany (bettich-piano dot de). Yes, didn't you know Alkan invented blue notes in the Barcarolle? ;) I'm glad you liked it =)

[hjiuhfhrehui]

NOOOOO youve got the same thing that i have O.O ( ganglion on the right wrist )

it really holds me back from playing difficult pieces you know. i almost had the carpal tunnel syndrome. they removed it and after 2 monthes its back :S. so have to get a nother operation. :( ganglion isnt on the right place for me

[Sorcerer88]

@hjiuhfhrehui oh, so we share the same fate. but actually my ganglion doesn't impede me at all, i play the most acrobatic pieces i can find and manage, i guess your handicap comes from the joint problems only, though i just read that ganglions can cause CTS, dang! i have to get rid of it finally, mine is about 2 1/2 years old i think. oh gee!

[OrangeSodaKing]

I'm actually playing this piece now!

[Sorcerer88]

@OrangeSodaKing i know ^^ haven't you posted a recording on PW? i think i've heard you play it (fantastically).

[OrangeSodaKing]

@Sorcerer88 That is the Barcarolle from Op. 65... I will probably not post the Nocturne until it's in better shape.

[THPSVideos]

thps legend becomes piano legend

[Sorcerer88]

@OrangeSodaKing lol, are you reading my mind? i just printed the sheets today =) it's so beautiful.. there are some other works in my mind as well though, so let's see ^^

[OrangeSodaKing]

@Sorcerer88 38a/1 Chant in E Major! PLEASE!