Preludes, Op. 31 (Alkan)

Charles-Valentin Alkan wrote 25 preludes for solo piano or organ in 1844; they were published as his Op. 31 in 1847. These preludes span all 24 major and minor keys, plus an additional 25th prelude in C major.

The Preludes, Op. 31

 * 1) Lentement, C major Preludes, Op. 31 Lentement, C major By Charles-Valentin Alkan.ogg
 * 2) Assez lentement, F minor Preludes, Op. 31 Assez lentement, F minor By Charles-Valentin Alkan.ogg
 * 3) Dans le genre ancien, D♭ major
 * 4) Prière du soir, F♯ minor
 * 5) Psaume 150me, D major
 * 6) Ancienne mélodie de la synagogue, G minor
 * 7) Librement mais sans secousses, E♭ major
 * 8) La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer, A♭ minor[[File:Electronic piano performance of Charles-Valentin Alkan Opus 31 No. 8 "La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer".wav|Electronic piano performance of Charles-Valentin Alkan Opus 31 No. 8 "La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer"]]
 * 9) Placiditas, E major
 * 10) Dans le style fugué, A minor
 * 11) Un petit rien, F major
 * 12) Le temps qui n'est plus, B♭ minor
 * 13) J'étais endormie, mais mon cœur veillait, G♭ major
 * 14) Rapidement, B minor
 * 15) Dans le genre gothique, G major
 * 16) Assez lentement, C minor
 * 17) Rêve d'amour, A♭ major
 * 18) Sans trop de mouvement, C♯ minor
 * 19) Prière du matin, A major
 * 20) Modérement vite et bien caracterise, D minor
 * 21) Doucement, B♭ major
 * 22) Anniversaire, E♭ minor
 * 23) Assez vite, B major
 * 24) Étude de velocite, E minor
 * 25) Prière, C major

Reception
Alkan's contemporary François-Joseph Fétis cautioned critics and the public not to compare Op. 31 with the works of Chopin:"'We must not expect to find in this artist's volume of preludes a flurry of fast notes by means of which certain pianists presage the skill before the performance of a piece. Alkan is a person of heart and mind; his preludes are dream-like which conceal a very calculated and finished art form.'"