Alkan Prelude in G Major "Dans le genre gothique" from Op. 31 [VIDEO]

[orangesodaking]

Alkan, like Bach and Chopin, wrote 24 preludes in all the major and minor keys, and even added a 25th in C major at the end. (In his 48 Esquisses Op. 63, he also has a 49th at the end.) This is the G Major Prelude.

I'll try to make a higher audio quality recording later, but I hope you enjoy. I have heard a couple recordings where there is an ornament over one of the notes, but I didn't see it in the IMSLP score I printed out. Could someone who has another version of this prelude besides the one available on IMSLP verify this for me please?

I hope you enjoy! Who said Alkan wasn't good at writing melodies, anyway? 

[pianowolfi]

Very beautiful! Thank you for posting this! I don't know any other score but I see a little sign that looks like a double sharp in m. 4 and 8, was it perhaps that? That looks a bit like a turn sign. But I can't hear a turn there in other recordings. Well now I heard one little trill in a recording by Olli Mustonen, but that's perhaps a liberty he took. I don't know.

[ramseytheii]

I don't know much Alkan but about this piece I just feel "meh!"  It seems rather pointless and trite, compared to much more beautiful pieces in similar vein from Schubert or Mendelssohn.  I'm all for light music but I don't feel this adds much to the repertoire, frankly!

Just my personal view.

Walter Ramsey

[orangesodaking]

I understand your opinion. This is from a set of 25 preludes, though. Also, if you listen to Mendelssohn's Songs without Words and Alkan's Chants, I think you'll enjoy Alkan's a bit more... Just my opinion!

Regarding Schubert... Well, it's really really hard to top Schubert.