Alkan: Prelude in D-flat major "Dans le genre ancien" Op. 31, No. 3

[orangesodaking]

i=0l-SqfjUrVv9eYMq

(I recommend listening with speakers or headphones)

After a much-too-long hiatus (and perhaps with much-too-long hair), I have decided to make time in my day to practice and record some solo piano repertoire for fun, and try to do it with the same discipline I had when I was still taking lessons years ago. As I am an Alkan superfan, I have decided to learn as many of the Op. 31 preludes as I can (not sure about 10 and 24 yet...)

Here is an in-progress recording of prelude No. 3 in D-flat major, "Dans le genre ancien." It has influences of Bach. The score is on IMSLP, but it's a bit cramped, so I have attached the easier-to-read Billaudot edition here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qJSceXMTCn41eP3aNa55U_jNSfVS6IVp/view?usp=drivesdk

Please give me feedback! This is a work in progress. All critiques are welcome and will be considered. I have some self-critiques already:

1. Make each individual line more independent

2. Improve clarity and reduce blurring with the pedal (though a few measures are specifically marked to use the pedal, so a little intentional "judicious" blurring will happen there).

3. Improve control over the thirds in the left hand

4. Improve my phrase shaping and singing tone.

5. Possibly change up some fingers/redistribution to rely on the pedal less, but I am honestly not sure what to change, and use of the pedal in many places seems unavoidable. At the end of the day, this is romantic-era music that is baroque-inspired, not actually baroque-era music.

[anacrusis]

I agree with your own suggestions!

I think the biggest issue is no. 4 and I'd really focus on getting more smooth and horizontal phrasing in there. I think you'll improve 1 a lot for free just by doing that. Small faults with 2 and 3 will also be more easily forgiven, and in fact I think those things will be easier to control by focusing on how you can get more musical phrasing with a feeling of ease.

[ryancronin]

I agree with your own suggestions!

I think the biggest issue is no. 4 and I'd really focus on getting more smooth and horizontal phrasing in there. I think you'll improve 1 a lot for free just by doing that. Small faults with 2 and 3 will also be more easily forgiven, and in fact I think those things will be easier to control by focusing on how you can get more musical phrasing with a feeling of ease.

When heard by normal ears and by people without skills, it still sounds good.