Oversimplifying, there are two Alkans:

1. Torrential, as if Beethoven were a drug and Liszt were high on it
2. Sweetly naïve, or seemingly so

Here’s the first of Alkan’s Op. 31 Préludes:

https://youtu.be/tbazyXVawGk

#pianominiature #classicalpiano #classicalmusic #romanticism #alkan