In 1857, Alkan published a flood of works, including the first two books of Chants and his landmark Douze études dans tous les tons mineurs, Op. 39, which includes a symphony and concerto for solo piano.
Composer Biography
Alkan's five books of Chants were written during his most artistically mature and productive phase, after a period of self-imposed social and artistic seclusion.
Composer's Artistic Vision
A characteristic of Alkan's music is his singular personality, defined by a far-sighted clarity that comes with isolation, often expressed through parody, the banal, and the grotesque.
Compositional Technique
Alkan's Chants are modeled on Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, Op. 19b, following its key sequence and alluding to its textures and moods throughout all five books.
Recording & Production
This album, along with its successor, was made possible by generous support from The Alkan Society and a research grant from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Notable Performances
Stephanie McCallum gave what is believed to be the first performance of Alkan's Chants, Op. 70, at her critically acclaimed Wigmore Hall debut in 1982.
Performer Biography
Stephanie McCallum, the pianist on this recording, is an Associate Professor in piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has had an international career spanning over thirty years.
