Rachmaninoff's 24 Preludes for Piano

Author: Rachmaninoff, Longyin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Rachmaninoff, Russian composer and pianist. Born in Onega, Novgorod Province, Russia in 1873. His father was a landlord, and the family was wealthy. He began studying piano at the age of 4 and entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1883 to study piano and composition. His Prelude in C-sharp Minor from the Preludes, Op. 3 received acclaim. In 1893, to commemorate Tchaikovsky's death, he composed the Piano Trio Remembrance of a Great Artist. His Symphony No. 1 was criticized as a "failed work," leading to years of depression and illness. Later, he composed the Second Piano Concerto and the Second Symphony, which brought him success and made him a world-renowned composer. In early 1909, he made his first visit to the United States, leaving a good impression, and subsequently performed in the U.S. several times, achieving great success. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Rachmaninoff fled to Switzerland and settled in the United States in 1918, where he engaged in composition and piano performance. His works during this period include the Fourth Piano Concerto, the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and the Third Symphony, among others; he also served as the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He passed away on March 28, 1943, in California at the age of 70. His other major works include the symphonic poem The Isle of the Dead, the Third Piano Concerto, as well as solo piano pieces like preludes, etudes, and art songs such as Vocalise. His compositions were deeply influenced by Tchaikovsky, with prominent melodic lines, rich harmonic and contrapuntal textures, and a predominantly Romantic musical language. Rachmaninoff's works are often melancholic and minor-keyed, but in these preludes written in different periods, he strictly adhered to the traditions of Bach and Chopin. This book collects 24 piano preludes by Rachmaninoff. The 24 pieces are evenly distributed across 24 different major and minor keys.