 For many years it was believed that Alkan met his death when a bookcase toppled over and fell on him as he reached for a volume of the Talmud from a high shelf . This tale , which was circulated by the pianist Isidor Philipp , is dismissed by Hugh Macdonald , who reports the discovery of a contemporary letter by one of his pupils explaining that Alkan had been found prostrate in his kitchen , under a porte @-@ parapluie ( a heavy coat / umbrella rack ) , after his concierge heard his moaning . He had possibly fainted , bringing it down on himself while grabbing out for support . He was reportedly carried to his bedroom and died later that evening . The story of the bookcase may have its roots in a legend told of Aryeh Leib ben Asher , rabbi of Metz , the town from which Alkan 's family originated . 
 For many years it was believed that Alkan met his death when a bookcase toppled over and fell on him as he reached for a volume of the Talmud from a high shelf . This tale , which was circulated by the pianist Isidor Philipp , is dismissed by Hugh Macdonald , <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>reports</mark></a> the discovery of a contemporary letter by one of his pupils explaining that Alkan <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> been found prostrate in his kitchen , under a porte @-@ parapluie ( a heavy coat / umbrella rack ) , after his concierge heard his moaning . He <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> possibly fainted , bringing it down on himself while grabbing out for support . He was reportedly carried to his bedroom and<a href='been_done' title='5'><mark></mark></a> died later that evening . The story of the bookcase may have its roots in a legend told of Aryeh Leib ben Asher , rabbi of Metz , the town from which Alkan <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>family originated . 
For many years it was believed that Alkan met his death when a bookcase toppled ova and fell on em as he reached fir a volume of da Talmud from a high shelf . This tale , which was circulated by tdapianist Isidor Philipp , is dismissed by Hugh Macdonald , report the discovery of a contemporary letter by one of his pupils explaining that Alkan done been found prostrate in his kitchen , under a porte @-@ parapluie ( a heavy coat / umbrella rack ) , after his concierge heard his moaning . He done possibly fainted , bringin it dwn on hisself while grabbing outt for support . He was reportedly carried to his bedroom and been died later that evening . Thdatory of the bookcase may have its roots in a legend told of Aryeh Leib ben Asher , rabbi of Metz , the town from which Alkan  fam originated .