Sergei Rachmaninoff Rachmaninoff\'s Piano Concerti.

¶ … Sergei Rachmaninoff [...] Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerti. Rachmaninoff is one of the world's best-known composers, and he wrote numerous pieces for concert and stage. Some of most famous are the four piano concerti, which all highlight his talent and his high opinion of the piano as a concert instrument.

Rachmaninoff is known for his romantic style of music, and these concertos are no exception. The first composition, "Concerto in F-Sharp Minor (Op. 1) for Piano and Orchestra" was originally written somewhere between 1880 and 1881, but it was completely redone in 1917, which altered it dramatically from the original score. Rachmaninoff dedicated this concerto to the distinguished pianist and teacher, Alexander Siloti. This concerto opens with an enthusiastic fanfare using two clarinets, two bassoons, and four horns, and while it does contain orchestra parts, the piano is the main instrument of the concerto, and has many solos during the performance that highlight the technical expertise of the pianist. Rachmaninoff actually uses a limited orchestra in this piece to highlight the piano, and to help add to the overall effect of the piano solos, which are the soul of the piece. The ending is quite dramatic, with the orchestra and the piano playing counter rhythms that are interesting and complex. Many people feel that other romantic composers, such as Schumann and Grieg influenced this particular work. Melody and harmony were important to Rachmaninoff, and this piece helps illustrate how he could use these both effectively in the orchestra and for the piano. This blending is what helps Rachmaninoff's music be romantic and dramatic at the same time.

Second in the quartet is Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18. This second concerto is probably the most famous of Rachmaninoff's concertos because the melody seems somehow more familiar. It was written in 1901, and Rachmaninoff himself was the first public performer of this piece, which many feel is his best (Veinus 345). It is a quite expressive piece that uses the piano and strings most expressively. The piano and the orchestra blend perfectly, even though the piano is dominate. This is a passionate and emotional piece that conveys sentiment and feeling through the piano to the audience. The composer dedicated this piece to his doctor, Doctor Dahl, who helped his conquer depression over a poor composition, and return to composing, and this may be one reason the piece is so passionate. Rachmaninoff was passionate about his work, and it clearly shows in this piece, especially in the climatic ending that engages the orchestra, the piano, and the listener in a grand finale that is loud and memorable. Again, Rachmaninoff uses melody and harmony, but the dissonance of the orchestra and the percussion to create a stunning, memorable piece.

Third in these four works is the Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, which was written in 1909, and written specifically for Rachmaninoff's first concert tour in the United States. Many people believe this is "probably the composer's best unified longer work" ("Webring"), but it did not receive good notices from the critics when it was first performed ("Piece Details"). Another critic notes this piece "rises to another of those pinnacles which form the landmarks in his career...Conscientious historians may one day consider this concerto as the beginning of a 'third period' of the composer's life" (Veinus 350). This piece shows a true unity some of his other pieces lack, and indicates how Rachmaninoff grew as a composer as his career continued. The opening of the piece is quiet and hushed, and seems far different from the more strident first two concertos. While this piece starts simply enough, it grows to emphatically highlight the piano, and so calls for great talent from the pianist. The last movement is a virtuoso section that is quite alluring and entertaining, which rises to a soaring and elegant coda. There is also a memorable fanfare in the piece that could be a strong composition on its own. It is a very long piece, nearly 40 minutes, and consists of three distinct movements. It is still performed enthusiastically today by orchestras around the country.