First Alkan Piece

[akonow]

Now I know that Alkan has a reputation of being notoriously difficult but I also know that he has some easier pieces too and I would really like to be able to say that I play some Alkan. Is Alleluia relatively easy despite the leaps in the left hand (because I really like that piece)? I know there are also some nocturnes that are easy and, while I would like to know where I can find those and what opus number they are, I particularly enjoy the huge chords in Alkan and would greatly appreciate it if someone could direct me to a technically less demanding chord haven. Thanks.

[dnephi]

Can you stop posting threads like these?  It's really annoying.  The only pieces by different composers ultimately worth playing are their coolest and (usually) more difficult.  It doesn't really behoove you to play the Liszt Nuages Gris, Brahms Waltz in A-flat, or Chopin Prelude in A.

[franzliszt2]

Look at some of the smaller pieces, there are many wonderful things

You have to start at the bottom to work up to the harder pieces....or just play hard stuff badly and nobody will listen to it.

[akonow]

Can you stop posting threads like these?  It's really annoying.  The only pieces by different composers ultimately worth playing are they're coolest and (usually) more difficult.  It doesn't really behoove you to play the Liszt Nuages Gris, Brahms Waltz in A-flat, or Chopin Prelude in A.

Yeah, I probably should just play Hanon, Czerny, and do scales until my technique is good enough to play all the difficult pieces by all the composers because, God knows there's no point in playing the piano unless you can play difficult pieces. Grow up. Furthermore, if my memory serves me right, Chopin once said, "Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." And, by the way, no one requires to read these posts so I don't see how they're annoying... It doesn't really behoove you to be so unfriendly.

[alpacinator1]

Le Festin D'Esope

[michel dvorsky]

Le Festin D'Esope

Yeah that piece is kinda challenging actually.    Wonderful work, but a bit beyond most of us.

I'm pretty familiar with Alkan's output.

Many of the 48 Esquisses op. 63 are not difficult.  They're beautiful pieces that fit somewhere between romanticism and impressionism. Check 'em out.

Some of the Preludes op. 31 are beautiful, but imo they are on average less ivdualistic than the esquisses. Again, a good place to start.

Other choices:

Barcarolle Op. 65 no. 6. Nice and straight-forward.

For a bigger challenge:

The Op. 39 no. 4. One of the most startling pieces of symphonic piano writing one can find imo.  It's technically not as difficult as many make it out to be, but requires a lot of thought, patience as well as a good grasp of legato touch and careful pedalling.

Good luck.  Alkan's best is well worth the effort.

[akonow]

Yeah that piece is kinda challenging actually.    Wonderful work, but a bit beyond most of us.

I'm pretty familiar with Alkan's output.

Many of the 48 Esquisses op. 63 are not difficult.  They're beautiful pieces that fit somewhere between romanticism and impressionism. Check 'em out.

Some of the Preludes op. 31 are beautiful, but imo they are on average less ivdualistic than the esquisses. Again, a good place to start.

Other choices:

Barcarolle Op. 65 no. 6. Nice and straight-forward.

For a bigger challenge:

The Op. 39 no. 4. One of the most startling pieces of symphonic piano writing one can find imo.  It's technically not as difficult as many make it out to be, but requires a lot of thought, patience as well as a good grasp of legato touch and careful pedalling.

Good luck.  Alkan's best is well worth the effort.

Thanks a lot, I'll take a look at those.

[michel dvorsky]

Cheers. 

[akonow]

Cheers. 

Do you have a recording of the Esquisses that you favor?

[michel dvorsky]

The only complete recording that I'm aware of is by Steven Osborne on the Hyperion Label. It's pretty good.

Those by Lewenthal and Smith are excellent too.

[akonow]

The only complete recording that I'm aware of is by Steven Osborne on the Hyperion Label. It's pretty good.

Those by Lewenthal and Smith are excellent too.

Okay, cool. Thanks again.

[alpacinator1]

Yeah that piece is kinda challenging actually.    Wonderful work, but a bit beyond most of us.

I'm pretty familiar with Alkan's output.

Many of the 48 Esquisses op. 63 are not difficult.  They're beautiful pieces that fit somewhere between romanticism and impressionism. Check 'em out.

Some of the Preludes op. 31 are beautiful, but imo they are on average less ivdualistic than the esquisses. Again, a good place to start.

Other choices:

Barcarolle Op. 65 no. 6. Nice and straight-forward.

For a bigger challenge:

The Op. 39 no. 4. One of the most startling pieces of symphonic piano writing one can find imo.  It's technically not as difficult as many make it out to be, but requires a lot of thought, patience as well as a good grasp of legato touch and careful pedalling.

Good luck.  Alkan's best is well worth the effort.

I was kidding. I know that piece is very difficult.