Piano Forum

There are some similarities between the second movement of Alkan's Grande Sonate Op. 33 (1846) and Liszt's Sonata in B Minor S. 178 (1853). I explored these and made a video comparing some parts I found similar.

I'm not saying Liszt totally ripped Alkan, but I am fairly certain that these are not coincidences.

Enjoy!

I think that this is one of the most interesting things ever put up on pianostreet! Having given the matter some thought again this morning (not for the first time, as I had pondered this previously), I am inclined to believe that we are indeed largely in the realms of coincidence here. I am not sure just how well Liszt would have known his friend's Grande Sonate at the time that he came to write his own sonata, but one of the most remarkable aspects of Liszt and Alkan is the sheer extent of the differences in their works, given that they were two of the greatest piano virtuosi of their day who also composed and played the organ. No - I think that the two works still function pretty much independently, actually, although your illustrations are good and at the very least thought-provoking!

It is curious, though, how the fates of these two sonatas differed, Liszt's being not only a major repertoire piece but one of his best known works over very many years while Alkan's Grande Sonate disappeared into obscurity as one of the least known of his major compositions until Ronald Smith and one or two others revived it within the past half-century!

Best,

Alistair