Composer

:

Charles-Valentin Alkan

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1856

Publication Date

:

1856

Average_duration

:

8:08

"Salut, cendre du pauvre!" in B flat major, Op. 45 is a piano piece composed by Charles-Valentin Alkan in 1857. The piece is a part of Alkan's set of twelve studies, Op. 35, which he later revised and expanded into a set of twenty-four preludes and fugues, Op. 31. The piece is characterized by its virtuosic and technically demanding passages, which showcase Alkan's mastery of the piano. The title, which translates to "Greetings, ashes of the poor!" is a reference to the biblical phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust," and reflects the somber and introspective mood of the piece. "Salut, cendre du pauvre!" is divided into three movements. The first movement is marked "Lento," and features a mournful melody played in the left hand, accompanied by a series of arpeggios in the right hand. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is a fast and energetic section that showcases Alkan's technical prowess. The final movement, marked "Lento," returns to the somber mood of the first movement, with a slow and melancholic melody played in the left hand, accompanied by a series of trills and runs in the right hand. The piece premiered in Paris in 1857, and was well-received by audiences and critics alike. It has since become a staple of the piano repertoire, and is considered one of Alkan's most significant works.

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