Saturday, March 3

Rachmaninov's Rach 3: Cadenza recording...

This is one of the most exciting things I've ever played! It's perhaps interesting to know that Rachmaninoff actually composed two cadenzas for the 1st movement and many pianists prefer the ossia version; yet I think that this one (the one here below) is more original and light and, most importantly, allows for a more convincing crescendo. Here is what Geoffrey Norris has to say on this (excerpt taken from his excellent book on Rachmaninoff):

"Rachmaninoff composed two versions of the first part of the cadenza. One is 59 bars long with an intricate passage work; the other has 75 bars, is chordal throughout and is considerably more taxing (...) The numbering of the pages in the manuscript indicates that the longer cadenza was the composer's first choice, but presumably the necessity to fit the concerto conveniently  on to 78 rpm records compelled him to choose the shorter one, or maybe Rachmaninoff simply felt that enough power had been generated elsewhere and that lightness provided an agreeable contrast.  Both versions achieve the same purpose in providing a suitable platform for displays  of virtuosity and in commenting adequately upon the motifs from the first subject". 

I am not convinced that the longer version was the composer's first choice but it's of no importance really. 

So, here is an excerpt from the [short] cadenza (I had to stop when the orchestra comes in, for obvious reasons!). 
Any comments are most welcome!


 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Πολύ ωραία η ιδέα να ανεβάσεις την καντέντσα! Όπως πάντα (για τα δικά μου αυτιά τουλάχιστον), το παίξιμό σου έχει συντονιστεί με το λόγο της μουσικής που βρίσκεται πίσω από τις νότες. Μου αρέσει η διακριτική χρήση του pedal, όπως και η λήψη από πάνω που μας επιτρέπει να δούμε 'what it takes' για να παιχτεί. Και σ'άλλα!:-)
Μόνικα

christos makropoulos said...

Many thanks Monika... Hope all is well.