Ultra kick-ass music

[comme_le_vent]

Hey im new to this board.
I am very curious as to what you folks think of the music of ALKAN. Have any of you played his music, or even just listened to it?
He is my joint favourite composer along with Beethoven and I love every single piece ive heard by him. My favourite work is his complete op.39 - 12 etudes in all the minor keys - including the symphony and concerto for solo piano.

[eddie92099]

I know the Concerto and the Allegro Barbaro. I have Ogdon's recording of the concerto and I love it! I bought the score but it seems like a lot of work to get the desired result, so haven't done much on it. I definitely want to explore much more of his works though as what I know is great,
Ed

[comme_le_vent]

i have the ogdon recording too, but my favourite is the hamelin recording. saying that, its actually invaluable to have both. hamelin has recorded quite alot of alkan's music and i have all of his alkan cds. i actually like the symphony for solo piano even more than the concerto and hamelin has recorded that too, superbly. the 1st movement of the symphony is one of the most emotional pieces of music ive ever heard. but its genius comes from the combined forces of head and heart - the structure and the way it builds up makes the climax at the end so much more powerful and moving.
anyone else have any more thoughts on the symphony or any other pieces by alkan?

[comme_le_vent]

my favourite alkan cd, and the cd that id reccomend as anyones first alkan cd  is Hamelin's recording of the 'Grand Sonata', 'Sonatine', 'le festin d'esope' (his most famous piece) ,and a lovely short lyrical piece.
My highlights from that disk are the 'festin' etude - which is the theme and variations to end all themes and variations - and the finale from the sonatine - for its extreme fury, rage, edge-of-your-seat tension and excitement, and at the very end - its insane suicidal manifestation of EARTH SHATTERING AGGRESSION!
very delicious

[eddie92099]

Yes, he is rather good!
Ed