Russian modernism

jadis · 05-24-2022, 02:07 AM

Some of Beethoven's sonatas pose formidable technical difficulties, as do Ligeti's etudes.

"Eccentricity" entails different things for a French Jew born in 1813 and a Russian nobleman born 60 years later. Too general to be meaningful.

What does Alkan's originality consist of exactly? What new sonorities did he introduce? The world record for the most octaves and arpeggios? He has so much more in common with someone like Thalberg than with the actually original composers of his generation, such as Chopin. Not to mention an early 20th century innovator such as Scriabin.

If you want to keep discussing this, do me a solid and open a thread on Alkan. This is to discuss and enjoy whatever can be more or less plausibly filed under "Russian modernism."

Ayn Marx · 05-24-2022, 05:01 AM

Given Alkan a French Jewish composer and virtuoso pianist. OK, so when you say 'This is to discuss and enjoy whatever can be more or less plausibly filed under "Russian modernism.” ‘
I presume ‘this’ refers to the Russian Modernism thread.
I’ll therefore leave well alone.

jadis · 05-27-2022, 04:02 PM

Back to Shostakovich's preludes and fugues, this is the closer of the cycle and one of the greatest. Godlike piano playing, too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JZf7GRKddI

05-24-2022, 02:07 AM	#31 (permalink)
jadis Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: dont ask Posts: 1,353	Some of Beethoven's sonatas pose formidable technical difficulties, as do Ligeti's etudes. "Eccentricity" entails different things for a French Jew born in 1813 and a Russian nobleman born 60 years later. Too general to be meaningful. What does Alkan's originality consist of exactly? What new sonorities did he introduce? The world record for the most octaves and arpeggios? He has so much more in common with someone like Thalberg than with the actually original composers of his generation, such as Chopin. Not to mention an early 20th century innovator such as Scriabin. If you want to keep discussing this, do me a solid and open a thread on Alkan. This is to discuss and enjoy whatever can be more or less plausibly filed under "Russian modernism."

05-24-2022, 05:01 AM	#32 (permalink)
Ayn Marx Music Addict Join Date: May 2022 Location: Sometimes Posts: 552	Given Alkan a French Jewish composer and virtuoso pianist. OK, so when you say 'This is to discuss and enjoy whatever can be more or less plausibly filed under "Russian modernism.” ‘ I presume ‘this’ refers to the Russian Modernism thread. I’ll therefore leave well alone.

05-27-2022, 04:02 PM	#33 (permalink)
jadis Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: dont ask Posts: 1,353	Back to Shostakovich's preludes and fugues, this is the closer of the cycle and one of the greatest. Godlike piano playing, too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JZf7GRKddI