Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio State University, 1966. / Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

The goal of this dissertation is not only to introduce the unique cadenza by Alkan but also to offer an argument from the performer’s point of view, for why Alkan’s cadenza should be considered when there exists a cadenza by Beethoven himself, not to mention those by a number of other composers, both contemporaries of Beethoven and later. Information in reference to the brief history of the cadenza and the pianoforte in the time of Mozart and Beethoven is presented in Chapter 2. A brief bibliography about Alkan is presented in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 describes not only the cadenza in the era of Alkan, but also a comparison which is presented between Beethoven and Alkan's cadenzas. Examples of the keyboard range, dynamic contrast, use of pedal and alternating notes or octaves, and creative quote are presented in Chapter 4. In conclusion, the revival of Alkan's cadenza is mentioned, and the author's hope to promote the Alkan's cadenza is presented in Chapter 5.

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Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–1888) was a French composer and virtuoso pianist. His music writing covers many genres. His major works are extremely difficult to play and decipher, due to their length and heavy texture. But his collection of miniatures called Esquisses is a hidden treasure. The range of this work is vast: it includes short character pieces in various styles and genres, from pre-Baroque to Impressionism. Alkan showed his mature compositional skill, endless creativity in these pieces. This work can be classified into eight unique styles. I choose one piece from each style to give a thorough analysis of Alkan's musical language and guidance either technical or musically challenging passages. I hope this dissertation can assist both teachers and students in learning this underrated work.

Charles Valentin Alkan (1813-1888), one of the great genii in music history, was widely misunderstood by his contemporaries because of his highly idiosyncratic ideas. From the perspective of the late twentieth century, his innovations can be better understood, and his music is now gaining wider appreciation. Yet, today many musicians still do not know even his name, much less his achievements. The year 1988 marks the one hundredth year since his death. In commemoration of this centennial anniversary, this thesis is presented as a plea for a greater awareness of the achievements of this important figure in the development of piano music.

The purpose of this study is to show interrelationships between the thematic contents of those piano works by Alkan that are considered to be representative of his general style and the more commonly used melodic phrases taken from the Jewish Synagogue, mainly prayer chants and accents. An attempt will be made to point out the reason behind consequent unacceptable of Alkan's piano works, despite the efforts of Busoni, d'Albert, and Lewenthal to bring them to public attention. The results of this investigation are presented in a systematic analysis and discussion of Jewish prayer-chants and their structure traceable within Alkan's music and in a presentation in table form of the Jewish accents found among Alkan's melodies. After consideration of the outcome of analysis, elements which are known to be European are also presented. These are mainly keyboard virtuousity and harmony and secondarily, form and rhythm. In this section, Robert Schumann's opinions of Alkan's music are quoted and discussed. Because Schumann's ideas carried into the twentieth century, this gave opportunity for a re-evaluation of the lack of musical beauty inherent in Alkan's music.

Charles-Valentin Alkan ( 1813-1888 ), French composer and pianist at early nineteenth century, devoted himself to write piano music only as Chopin during his entire life. As a child prodigy, his talent of performing piano was recognized when he was quite young, then, became as an outstanding pianist of his time. However, because of his unsociable personality and strange behavior, Alkan was soon forgotten by the public. His music was discovered in recent decades by scholars and pianists. They started to explore his works; consequently, he became famous again. There are three parts in this study. The first part aims on his mysterious life. The second part seeks to clarify the development of the concerto and the musical environment of Paris at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The last part should focus on music style and structure based on his earlier work Concerto da Camera, No. 10. Hopefully, through the research, the historical significant of Alkan can be defined more precisely.

abstract: Charles-Valentin Alkan’s Grande Sonate Op. 33 ‘Les quatre âges’ is a unique four-movement work for piano solo that programmatically represents a man’s life through four decades, passing from age 20 to 50, with each movement being progressively slower than the previous. Published in 1847, it was destined for obscurity until it was rediscovered and premiered in 1973 by English pianist Ronald Smith. Its absence from the public’s reach can be attributed to multiple reasons including the reclusive nature of the composer during the time of composition and the societal issues surrounding the French Revolution of 1848. Much of Alkan’s music has a reputation for being nearly unplayable because of its complexity and the extremely high level of technical facility a pianist must possess in order to perform it convincingly. Aside from its performance length of nearly an hour, there are many technical issues that prevent Alkan’s Grande Sonate from being performed more frequently. This paper is an exploration of some of these performance and technical issues for consideration by pianists interested in solving the riddle of performing Alkan’s Grande Sonate. The findings explored are based in part on the author’s experience in performing the complete Grande Sonate in recital, as well as on extant research into Alkan’s life and the interpretation and performance of his works. The paper concludes with an appendix and link to the author’s live performance of the work, another appendix renotating the fugato from Quasi-Faust, and a third appendix providing extensive fingering and voice redistribution for Les enfans [sic] from 40 ans. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Music 2018

Cette thèse est une recherche comparative globale des techniques pianistiques utilisées dans les Douze études dans les tons mineurs op. 39 de Charles-Valentin Alkan et les Études d'exécution transcendante de Franz Liszt. À partir de ce concept, ce document explore l'évolution du piano en France à l'époque des deux compositeurs. De plus, il détermine leurs innovations pianistiques ainsi que les styles personnels qui les caractérisent dans ces deux recueils. On y trouve également une analyse du langage musical apparu dans chaque étude et l'influence des autres compositeurs. Cet écrit présente un parcours des différentes textures pianistiques du point de vue de l'interprète. Ce survol a pour but d'arriver à une pratique optimale ainsi qu'à une utilisation efficace des moyens corporels pour obtenir une meilleure qualité de son. En somme, cette recherche porte sur la résolution des problèmes techniques des œuvres de ces deux compositeurs qui se trouvent au sommet de la virtuosité au 19e siècle. / This thesis is a comprehensive comparative research of piano techniques used in Charles-Valentin Alkan's Twelve Etudes In the Minor Keys op. 39 and Franz Liszt's Transcendental Etude. From this starting point, this document explores the historical evolution of the piano in France during these two composer's time. It also determines their pianistic innovations as well as the personal styles that define them in these two collections. The reader will also find an analysis of the musical language that appeared in each etude as well as the influence from other composers' styles. This document presents an overview of different pianistic textures explained from the interpreter's standpoint. This overview targets an optimal way for practicing and an efficient use of the body in order to obtain a better sound quality. Thus, this research is about the resolution of technical problems that one can find in the works of these two composers who are at the top of the 19th Century's virtuosity