CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN (born 1813, Paris, France -- died 1888, Paris), French pianist-composer, one of the leading virtuosos

CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN
30^thNovember 1813 --- 29^thMarch 1888

CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN (born 1813, Paris, France -- died 1888, Paris), French pianist-composer,
one of the leading virtuosos of the 19th century and one of the most enigmatic figures in 19th
century music. Alkan was born to Jewish parents, and all of his siblings (five brothers and a sister)
also assumed the surname Alkan and were musicians. Valentin drew notice at the age of seven, when
he won the first of many first prizes at the Paris Conservatory. By the age of 17; he had established a
reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

As a young man he moved in a circle of friends that included George Sand, Victor Hugo, Frédéric Chopin
and Franz Liszt, but for long periods of time beginning in his 20s he withdrew from society and concert
performance and devoted himself to composingmusic. His music, difficult and often unorthodox, displays
considerable ingenuity and imagination in advancing the possibilities of keyboard technique in this
respect Ferruccio Busoni, an Italian composer and pianist, considered him to be excelled only by Liszt
and Johannes Brahms. Alkan himself felt that he was overshadowed by Liszt.

In his rare concert appearances he preferred to play the works of 18th-century composers, then out
of fashion rather than his own compositions. His numerous works composed mostly for piano and pedal
piano include preludes and studies in all the major and minor keys, 12 pieces, Les mois (The Months)
the sonata Les quatre âges, and the Piano Concerto in C Sharp Minor. César Franck transcribed several
of his pieces for organ.

Some additional information.

Not sure I agree with everything you have said about my hero. He was a lot older when he became a
recluse - after he lost the chance to become head of keyboard at the Paris Conservatoire in about 1849
to Marmontiel. In his 20s he was lionised by the public, I think he became disgusted with the shallow
turn society took after the 1848 riots.

Suggest you read Ronald Smith's biography "Alkan the Enigma" just re-released. This was passed onto
me by Peter Bird via my email.
Copyright 1994-1998 Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated on 2016
By Steven Ritchie

And now for the Music

(1167)"Etude Opus.76, No.1 for the left hand alone". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(1168)"Etude Opus.76, No.2 for the right hand alone". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(1169)"Etude Opus.76, No.3 for both hands". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(41a)"Etude Opus.35, No.5". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(42a)"Etude Opus.76, No.2". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(40a)"Etude Opus.39, No.12". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(38)"Chantes Opus.38, No.1". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(82)"Le Festin D'esope, Opus.39". Sequenced by Peter R Wolfe

(1170)"Hallelujah, (Psalm 150)". Sequenced by David Coronel

(1171)"Finale alla saltarella Prestissimo, from the piano et violoncelle, Opus.47". Sequenced by Philip DeWalt

(1172)"Gros Temps"(Foul Weather) From "Les Mois", Opus. 74, No.1". Sequenced by Philip DeWalt

(1173)"Un Nuit D'ete, Suite No. 1 from Les Mois". Sequenced by Philip DeWalt

(1174)"Saltarelle, Opus.23". Sequenced by Philip DeWalt

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