Alkan: Le preux (1844)

9 years passed since my previous post ( • Alkan Le Preux (Trial ... ) at which I said "Like Le Chemin de Fer, I'll re-upload after this."
As the previous, I didn't take any compilation on it, and there are
many flaws as always, and I wanna say "I''ll re-upload after this". How many years will pass, then?
Still I argue that it is too fast to play it in 144 bmp in 4/4, the tempo on the notorious MIDI. In my opinion, 132 or 138 bmp makes this piece the most interesting, while "safe" to play.

[@purerhodium]

holy shit the absolute madman he actually did it

[@Samuel-zo2rc]

My exact reaction, couldn't stop saying ''Holy shit'' at the end.

[@tuupronald]

Unbelievable performance...

[@franciscodecomayaguela9496]

Remember when someone argued that his video was sped-up on his previous upload? 😂

[@charlesthomas5956]

It seems speed up

[@Pianistic_Jade]

I don't think that Le preux is a masterpiece full of musicality or creativity. But this is one of the most virtuosotic piece in romantic era, and it is magnificent enough to electrify audience.

[@melonica90]

I overally agree with you. But in the sense of 'expression' of theme(The Knight), Alkan successfully composed piece to match with theme.

[@ActionAdam]

Le Preux lacks musicality, but the difficulty of it whilst remaining 'playable' has an undeniable allure

[@kaputt_jay3873]

IDK I think it's beautiful, especially 0:18 - 0:29

[@zswu31416]

If you think that the piece sounds un-musical, it's probably the performer's fault rather than the composer's fault

[@Whatismusic123]

​@@teodorb.p.composerit's not music

[@pawncube2050]

4:48 that awkward moment when Alkan just decides detonating

[@kungkim510]

This is what happens if you contract with a demon

[@niccolopaganini4268]

kungkim510 Hello

[@omnitone]

kungkim510 it goes the other way too.

[@topic260]

This is how I imagine myself playing the piano

[@TheElectricCheeseProductions22]

Then you aint imagining right

[@ryzikx]

@@TheElectricCheeseProductions22 wat

[@lymon800]

your rendition so far is the only one i've heard on youtube that actually makes sense and doesn't just sound like morning practice.

[@ActionAdam]

I'm shocked. I literally have no words. Le Preux performed at basically the set tempo with decent accuracy and control... Impossible. Not just impossible, but inhuman. Thank you for giving me a goal to reach *bows*

[@varunsathya-composer1404]

I fricking love the middle voicing

[@scamcaller]

5:13 why that part has to be octave for each hand wtf alkan...

[@y.martel842]

Alkan was being dodgy

[@inuush]

You are criminally underrated, this channel needs more views and subs.

[@DreamlessSleepwalker]

Criminally underrated is the biggest underestimate you can possibly give him. He fucking played Le preux. You don't see Lang Lang playing this do you? Maybe most top pianists secretly can clear all of these records but just don't.

[@ryzikx]

@@DreamlessSleepwalker le preux, le chemin, and mereaux etude, and chopin godowsky...

[@brozors]

wow, the legendary KZbin vid gets a new version! I honestly got very excited when I saw the thumbnail appear on my frontpage. Thanks for following up after nine years, and allowing us to hear what Le Preux would sound on a grand piano. Your playing of difficult and obscure works definitely deserve more attention.

[@Dylonely42]

- How do you want it ? Alkan : Hard - And what if… Alkan : Hard - But… Alkan : Very hard

[@DemitNWC]

5:30 looks so freakin' powerful. Brilliant!

[@alkankondo89]

Wow! Amazing job! It's weird that (1) you decided to re-upload after so long and (2) I just happened to listen to your previous performance of this piece just this past Sunday. In my opinion, you are the definitive performer of this difficult piece. I like how in this version you play the "bien chante" triad sections with an alternating-hands effect. When I look at the score, that's how I think it's supposed to be played. Also, it just sounds better than playing each left-hand and right-hand triad on the same beat. That last passage with the "du bras" octaves is just as amazing to watch as in the last recording! At points it seems like the camera can't keep up with how fast your arms are moving, haha! Also, playing those last 2 measures with a reduced tempo was, I think, a wise way to give a dramatic ending to this piece and also underscore just how low-register those left-hand chords are in the penultimate measure.

[@2011persol]

Yeah he is (the def performer of t his piece)

[@kaki0genkin]

Thank you for your comments. Because it is in this year that I got able to play it at this level stable for the first time . Almost each year I tried to reupload but it always failed. Of course 9 years ago I did play, but it was a chance.

[@dwacheopus]

You've splendidly played it

[@felorobotoscope]

Until now I always considered that no one apart from Alkan himself would have ever been able to play this at the original tempo...

[@user-lj1sc9bs4t]

ですがこの演奏は完璧ではありません..

[@dwacheopus]

Yeah, martha argreich/yuja wang/katsaris must've really tried this piece.

[@CamilleBraiki]

Check Yi-Chung Huang’s performance 😁

[@dwacheopus]

@@CamilleBraiki his tempo is faster than the original

[@CamilleBraiki]

@@dwacheopus Who knows ? There’s no precise tempo indication on the sheet music… all it says is that it must be fast.

[@agamaz5650]

please buy a better microphone and you'll be one of the best piano channels

[@melonica90]

The most sympathetic music comment I've ever seen.

[@kaki0genkin]

Thank you for your comment. So what's the recommendation? I don't have so much money and it is up to around 100 or 200 USD to afford for microphone.

[@agamaz5650]

@@kaki0genkin no idea bro

[@LoCoZappers]

@Barbaro Mr. a good idea for a microphone is the Blue Yeti; it's 89.99 USD. Another option is the Snowball (39.99 USD), by the same company, although I've heard it can frequently record (unwanted) background sounds. The downside to the Snowball is that it may require a USB plug in. Good luck, and keep performing.

[@JohnCena-gp4dx]

@@rafaeldemiranda8107 Yea that seems to be the best option within that price range

[@jahman514]

Absolutely stunning stunning to see and listen to. I like how you rolled the chords in the A section, something that most performers leave out.

[@saludoezrieljonb.2176]

When I closed my eyes, it felt like I was listening a piano synthesia, but you actually did it. Excellent!!!!

[@preutbao833]

Omg what a powerful performance !!! You are coming back, legend !

[@samuelfowler2305]

Holy Cow! How does your stuff not have more views! This is amazing!

[@ayhamshaheed7740]

Holy smokes...that was incredible! A very, very well done to you sir

[@Sotteot]

Very nice. I've been waiting for this. Perhaps my favorite Alkan piece

[@riccardobarone2494]

Fantastico, congratulazioni! Alkan avrebbe apprezzato.

[@LoCoZappers]

Good job, and I'm really glad you decided to upload some more Alkan...Good decision!

[@alexz4190]

Just amazing. It would be great to see your performance of "Le festin d'Esope".

[@-gdy6144]

Thank you *very much* for playing my favorite song again! :)

[@user-xd1hc7sv8p]

Wow.... You finally did! Great job!

[@throxing8865]

you got to be the top 10 best piano players on youtube not even joking

[@ryzikx]

excluding pro pianists that are not youtubers, he's probably top 3 or 2

[@campanella231]

高画質でみれる嬉しさ

[@ahmedmalad1605]

So Impressive and inspirational ! Really Good Job

[@ahmedmalad1605]

btw glad u changed he Tempo to lower ! It sounds way more realistic and fun and exciting ! Am speechless i really dont know what to say

[@melonica90]

Your First version of Le Preux was which made me hook into Alkan. Now, Better and smooth version com back. WOW!

[@TheModicaLiszt]

I have no words to say apart from “Now I want you to reupload The 24th Etude Bravura Edit: Thanks for the heart. Barbaro Mr.!

[@dawidambrozewicz5145]

Will you expect Scherzo Focoso op. 34 and Amedee Mereaux on this Channel? Greetings from Poland!

[@fabrizioventrella5816]

Le style est présent

[@jason02951234]

This is legendary performance.....

[@DreamlessSleepwalker]

Wait this is even playable?

[@that1guy910]

@Franz Liszt whats it original tempo then ? I've seen so many different answers and idk what now lol

[@that1guy910]

@Franz Liszt oh it was. THANKS :D

[@ActionAdam]

@Enescu I thought there was no tempo marking on the sheet. Was it said that Alkan played it at 144bpm?

[@happypiano4810]

I mean, you’re seeing it.

[@ActionAdam]

*Drinks 5 Lucozades* Mr. Barbaro:

[@GammaBlaster98]

YOU'RE BACK

[@d.paulkwon9798]

I've never clapped to a youtube video till I watched to your performance. I've never felt this much desire to praise another person 😂😂

[@spacerpunk]

Truly amazing performance, I've only heard it played by computers...this is beautiful.

[@EpreTroll]

You played it too fast actually. It's fast but jesus not this fast. If you played it at the right tempo you'd probably make less mistakes, you're making it too hard for yourself. Still remarkable accuracy at this speed tho. probably asian

[@melonica90]

There's no metronome marking. So it's up to performer playing this fast or not. Remember notorious Nanasakov's recording also very fast.

[@harrietbryant7772]

If you can play it slow, you can play it fast!

[@Cryseris]

@@melonica90 isn’t it 144 bpm

[@Helen-sound]

Technically brilliant but musically it’s lost . I agree , it’s just too fast for me .

[@shanafzal3646]

It should be fast

[@user-in9vp8nv5h]

Good playing!

[@Pianistic_Jade]

Wow. . . Much Better than before

[@sleepyowl5666]

Amazing!

[@agamaz5650]

you're insane bro

[@MrFartyman44]

well this is pretty impressive

[@Jartious]

Wow, you and Seon Yong Hwang are probably two of the best pianists on yt!

[@VanoArts]

Thank you

[@alirezaseyyed-ahmadian7743]

Bravissimo! So far so good. The best I've seen performed by a real pianist, not by a machine...

[@blakecarterpiano]

Finally a remasterd version on a Steinway.

[@kaki0genkin]

This is a piano at the rental studio, not mine.

[@blakecarterpiano]

Barbaro Mr. Oh, well let me edit my comment then.

[@kaki0genkin]

Don't worry, I had seldom explained that my video is recorded at the rental studio. I wish I had such a brilliant Steinway.

[@blakecarterpiano]

Barbaro Mr. Me too.

[@zongyaojin8898]

Awesome work! I’ve seen quite a few videos of you playing incredibly difficult pieces. And you put on your profile an amateur pianist. So just curious, what’s your occupation? Like engineer, teacher or something?

[@happypiano4810]

How did you manage to play an Alkan piece too fast? This man is a legend.

[@gebrailtselaneyov7268]

Définition of : to be crazy

[@user-in9vp8nv5h]

I respect your music

[@ElitetoN]

Finally remastered!

[@NintalTutoriales]

Please, reupload Mereaux's etude no. 24 or no.45

[@melonica90]

You demand hell LOL

[@schrodingerscat5417]

I almost forgot to breathe.

[@justinjohnson4452]

Bro. This is amazing. This is the ONLY good recording of a human playing his song. Some argued that it is impossible to play, but you did amazing. Really, great job.

[@Leegahun]

Amazing!!....

[@klaus.mp3]

NINE YEARS WAITING FOR THIS AAAAAAAAAAA IM FUCKING HYPE

[@bjornstein2366]

The piano can't handle it lol

[@vnwa7390]

@Barbaro Mr. could you upload the Grand Fantasia on Spanish Themes S.253 or the Remnisces de Lucrezia Borgia S.400? Especially the Lucrezia Borgia.

[@greenapple306]

Well that deserves a subscribe

[@everyday734]

WTF!!! How!? You technique is increbible, can you play Le festin d'escope?

[@pianobanana3863]

How to you hit all these crazy jumping octaves at the end? I can imagine the rest is possible with a lot of practise, but that part seems like nearly impossible to consistenly play correctly

[@2011persol]

DURING THOSE LAST PAGES OF EXHILIRATING OCTAVES, HE DID NOT , I REPEAT DID NOT PHYSICALLY SITTING ON THE CHAIR, HE WAS ELEVATED FROM THE EXPERIENCE (DOUBT HE WAS AWARE OF THT HIMSELF)

[@kaki0genkin]

Everyday practice of octaves in 10 minutes for years. I am planning to upload how-to in the future.

[@2011persol]

THT'S SOME GOOD NEWS RIGHT THERE...THNX AND GOD (SPEED) LUCK ON THE NEXT VIDEO!

[@elionaidgranados1005]

500 like where is the World of Music my God it's so superb man..!!

[@juancarlosquinonesortiz898]

BRAVO!!!!!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@giacomoboganini7823]

Wooow greaaaaat!!

[@PianothShaveck]

Nice attempt, really, clean and clear enough. It looks like there aren't cuts, which makes even more impressive. I'd liked it even more if you just took a tiny bit more time in some places. For example, the D major chord at 0:43 is a really important change, marked with FFF. Or at 5:05, in which the harmony changes really fast. You can't just rush it and go on like nothing happened, just to stay up with the rhythm, or just because it is known that Alkan didn't do much rubato usually. I don't know if any metronome marking for this piece is authentic: my edition doesn't have any metronome marking. But even if there was a really fast metronome marking, what's important is that the character of the final result sounds like it were played at that speed: it's not actually important that you literally reach it. If you're extremely fast but a bit dirty, you will sound less fast than if you played it a little slower but cleaner. Anyway, this recording is still really impressive, so there's that.

[@jannis11]

NOICE

[@nothinggmuch8642]

And why people say Its impossible

[@LeventK]

When human is better than computer:

[@greenapple306]

Quite unfortunate that im drawn to want to learn this piece

[@ActionAdam]

Lmfao

[@pjimenez08]

Who is this mysterious man

[@gyeongbaemin3128]

I love you♡♡

[@arnavanand8037]

Awesome! You are Le preux! Greetings from earth!(_)

[@omnitone]

YAAAAY AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@nonbasketless]

i love you

[@user-iq3te7ms9u]

Wow!

[@angramainiuu]

Next time I go to Chicago, I'll take your hands as my flight ;)

[@jamesowen8623]

those octaves are so fast the keys are still releasing when you are already playing the next ones haha

[@anhducduong0105]

The octave jumps are extreme. They disfigured your fingers.

[@MyPianoArchives]

Honestly, how the fuck do you even do this. Practice is one thing, but you’re moving your hands so quickly at the end I feel like it must be a guessing game. It’s insane and I applaud you.

[@agamaz5650]

hardest piece of music ever created?

[@DreamlessSleepwalker]

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji’s Opus clavicembalisticum is the hardest piece for piano. Ben Jonston string quartet seven is the hardest piece of music.

[@vnwa7390]

Bullshit about the piano. Finnissy’s English Country Tunes note for note, even as alluded to by the Sorabji expert and enthusiast Toothless Toe (or Finnissy), is harder in terms of raw difficulty than possibly even Sorabji. However, your statement does hold some credibility, but I’d lean towards saying that Opus Archimagicum, Sequentia Cyclica, Opus Secretum, Sonata V, and the monumental 10~ hour long Symphonjc Variations for Piano solo are more difficult than even OC. However, Alistair has already pointed out that this is subjective. I’d also like to argue with the Ben quartet being the most difficult. Some of Ferneyhough’s string quartets or music such as that could compete with it. Of course, there will also always be impossible pieces like A. Norden’s Etude no. 1, which are literally impossible based on the fact that they require stretches of about 3 octaves simultaneously etc etc. I’ve seen you around youtube and a lot of these vids btw; always nice to see another enthusiast :).

[@vnwa7390]

@@paeffill9428 It's all subjective. A. Norden's Exercise No 1 for example isn't possible for a human because of it's ridiculous 3-4 octave stretches either. Any absurd piece will do the trick and it doesn't even matter if we have a difference of opinion on that; we can just agree that some pieces aren't worth wasting time on.

[@melonica90]

As you said you receive request other pieces, I also request you one piece. Alkan Op.53-Quasi Caccia It's an interesting piece to me because it's perfectly neglected by pianists. I've never heard recordings of it. Impression from the sheet music is, seems very difficult.

[@melonica90]

imslp.org/wiki/Quasi_Caccia%2C_Op.53_(Alkan%2C_Charles-Valentin)

[@agamaz5650]

theeeeeeeeeee

[@datruzepp]

AHAHAHAHA REZPEC da RETURN of da BABARO!!! 8-)

[@shun6240]

暫定版の時よりめっちゃ上手い ナナサコフと同等の速度で弾けてるのも凄い

[@misha_pie2995]

E A S Y

[@user-jo3sb9tr8j]

すごい‼︎の一言しか出ない

[@charles-valentinalkan5681]

Easy.

[@melonica90]

Demon visited LOL

[@MyshKatze]

Please give me some tips, I've been trying to master this piece for 2 months

[@richardszalai5230]

@@MyshKatze How long do you play piano ?

[@MyshKatze]

@@richardszalai5230 17 years

[@richardszalai5230]

@@MyshKatze Then i don't think that i have a good edvice for you :D (I play only Czerny and Chopin Etudes XD )

[@nikolapopov6013]

Hello, I personally can't get enough of this and I' sure, that others feel the same way. But if it was recorded with a better microphone it would be marvelous. If you set up a Patreon account, I'm sure enough money could be gathered.

[@LeventK]

5:14 Alkan gone mad

[@ActionAdam]

Lmaooooooooo

[@si-us8nz]

you should do hamelin / Alkan Etude no.4

[@agamaz5650]

whaaaaaaaaaaaat

[@u1-160]

等速で弾けるとは…恐るべし

[@OAnIncurableHumanist]

This is great! I don't understand why more top professional pianists haven't recorded this? There are like three amateur performance videos on KZbin, and not a single professional one, and very few professional recordings come up on Spotify. Sure, it's a very difficult piece, but pianists like Hamelin, Lugansky, Wang, Lisitsa and dozens of others should have no problem with the technical aspect. Maybe it's just not an interesting piece to them?

[@dwacheopus]

I'm not sure if they actually know who alkan is. Or they fear him, see him in their nightmares. P.s. hamelin played alkan, but not this piece for some reason

[@grants9115]

professionals probably have little difficulty with the piece, but its not just worth it. There are so many better ones out there and it really isnt that known to the media

[@lurkerintenebris7311]

: O

[@user-vz8er9ie6e]

Can you receive request song?

[@kaki0genkin]

It is free to request, but it is the another thing that I receive and actually play it, putting aside the other pieces that I already decide d to play.

[@user-vz8er9ie6e]

@@kaki0genkin how about this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXS9eaCartp8hg I wanna see if human can actually play this one

[@spira8751]

No videos found.

[@user-vz8er9ie6e]

@@kaki0genkin kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnWZeYKDoduejMk This one Oster Project : Demon fire