S. Rachmaninov: Prelude The Bells of Moscow The Prelude became popular immediately after Sergei Rachmaninov premiered it on October 8, 1892. He had to accommodate audiences at virtually every recital he gave thereafter by including it as an encore. It begins with ominous descending chords that lead to one of the composers most melancholy and memorable themes. Its slow lilting character, conveyed in big gloomy chords, is reminiscent of tolling bells on a dark wintry night, an image which accounts for its nickname, The Bells of Moscow. The theme offers no consolation in its dire gloom, but instead proceeds to proudly proclaim its beguiling pessimism. The middle section is restless and tense, not breaking the dark mood, but offering livelier and more driven music before returning to the chordal theme with doubled intensity. In the end, despite damning judgments so often associated with short popular piano works, this piece must be considered one of the most perfect from Rachmaninovs early years and a masterpiece of the late nineteenth century keyboard literature. https://youtube/watch?v=Yw1Pd9oojdM
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:28:08 +0000
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