Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto - Essay Example

Chopin, Piano Concerto N Opus II Mvt 2 Rachmananov, Piano Concerto N° 2 Opus 18 Mvt Frédéric Chopin is one of my favorite composers, as I enjoy listening to piano music. The pieces I chose show the most important composer of the 19th century of piano music. He understood his capabilities. He loved what he did. When you listen to his music, you feel the beauty of his music and have a desire to have the whole collection of his piano music. I have chosen the Concerto N°1 Op II mvt 2 because it shows the beauty of Chopins piano virtuosity and his weakness as an orchestra composer. He understood this but it didnt make a difference. He understood this and continued in composing music. He never gave up. He chose later in his career to only limit his playing to the "Salons of Paris". The second piece chosen was to compare a 20th century composer Rachmaninov who had perfect command of the symphony orchestra and was able to compose for both. The Concerto N°2 mvt 2 was used as these two movements were slow and moderately slow: moderato and larghetto. Rachmaninov was considered neo-classism. Chopin was born in Poland in 1810 and died in Paris in 1849. His father was born in France and had moved back to Poland. Frédéric was considered one of the first nationalistic composers of his time. The politics of the time were difficult. Russia was expanding. Poles were emigrating. Nationalistic feelings were high. It was common to compose using nationalistic songs. Rachmaninov did not have the same priorities. Chopins music is full of Polish influence, dances, and melodies. He left Poland permanently in 1831 and settled in Paris. As a perfectionist, he could no longer accepted the Warsow public as a judge of his abilities as a musician, composer and conductor. He had already composed his first two piano concertos Opus I & II. Chopin composed in the height of the Romantic Period. He wanted to learn from others. In Paris, Chopin was overwhelmed with the bubbly atmosphere of nationalism. Artists from the different artistic movements met frequently (literary, music, art). There was a large Polish community due to the Russian evasion of Poland. As of 1832, he had made a place for himself in the music world. It is important to note that he did not like his playing technique saying that it was not good for large halls. He had composed and trained on a 19th century piano which was still not loud enough for large concert halls. He would perform in the small, private salons which were from the patronage system of the 18th century. He performed once a year for a large concert hall. This had an effect on the type of music he composes. All of his music is written for piano or piano concerto or piano and chamber orchestra The Concerto N°1 Opus 11 pour piano and orchestra can be played with other instrumentation. It is partly due to the importance of the different colors of the piano and the way Chopin used the orchestra. Joseph Hofman orchestrated the concerto for piano et quintet (2 violins, one viola, one cello, and one bass). Rachmaninov was born in Russia in 1873 and died in Los Angeles in 1944. He had been offered jobs in the States but declined at each time. He accepted after the Russian Revolution. The invention of the piano rolls and vinyl records helped him become famous. He was a composer, conductor and performer. It must be noted that Chopin was not as diverse in his work. He was a pianist and a composer. He spent no time conducting. He only taught piano students. Rachmaninov came from a family of piano players and Tatars who had worked for the Tsar for centuries. His father was a bad business man who lost all his familys wealth. They were forced to move to Saint Petersburg. Rachmaninov was a lazy student and prone to depression. He differed from Chopin in that his life was more difficult not having the financial comforts. Only when he moved to the States did he become well known. Having the newly discovered vinyl records and record rolls helped in his becoming famous. Chopin was perfection at piano composition. He would use the simple chamber orchestra. Rachmaninoff was a master of the symphony orchestra and harmony. His orchestras were large and had more brass and tympanis. His piano concerti were part of the orchestra. Chopins concerti had three movements. He also used a different type of instrumentation which was part of the Romantic period. His compositions were either solo or he used the other instrument to accompany the piano. I found this Chopins Concerto N°1, Opus 11 incredibly interesting. He played the first performance in Poland in 1830 for piano and orchestra. It was orchestrated later by Josef Hofmann (1876-1957 for piano and string quintet. Though Chopin orchestrated it for a full orchestra, which showed the more classical use of his orchestration, he realized that he did not have the technique to play in a large concert hall for 19th century pianos. The music shows his love for national Polish songs. This compares to Rachmaninov where there is no Russian influence. I have used the following track: http://youtu.be/UEQbgJ2J9D4 Chopin, Concerto N° 1 in E minor, opus II mvt 2 The orchestra introduction is cut off at the last cord by the entering of the piano (54) It gives a feeling as though someone messed up. The Piano Solo is beautiful until the orchestra comes in strong (1.57). In some recordings with famous players, the orchestra is too strong. This last recording with Yundi Li is beautiful. The orchestra does it job and never is over powering. The piano is romantic free flowing. The piano still remains louder. The piano repeats the same theme. (3.54) and the orchestra is really in the background. The 2nd movement, Romance (Larghetto) started with an introduction to the piano then the solo piano. At 6.00 he goes up and down the piano but gets back to the main theme. At 7.25 the style completely changes, the piano turns into an exciting two mesure melody which shows his rubatto effect introducing the third movement. Chopin had rung the bells and we hear the clock winding. Unlike Rachmaninov, the whole Larghetto is free flowing but for two chords. The form of the Romance is Romantic. The orchestra serves as a background to the whole concerto. http://youtu.be/uT_ZhhQeudY Rachmaninov, Concerto N° 2 Op 18 mvt 1 Moderato He starts it with a beautiful piano solo (27) which builds up to that rolling back and forth, (1.02) followed by the string and piano duet. When Rachmaninov plays his own Concerto, he plays it much more rapidly than other performers. He is almost a minute faster, when the orchestra and piano changes rhythm and the level of excitement. The strings become important and the piano takes second. (1.30). At 2.19, it becomes a short rapid solo. There is a complete change At 2.45, you feel as though the soloist is talking to himself for an occasion glimpse to the outer world. The music is free flowing. At times the piano answers the orchestra but you have the feeling he is by himself. The tempo is constantly changing. Everything changes at 5:00 when we hear the brass instruments. The piano has short choppy rhythms. The climax comes at 7th minute. 8.43, a completely new theme was introduced by a solo instrument with different melodies and different tempos. It ended at 10.17 with three loud cords. References Chopin Biography (2004) Chopin Music. Retrieved from:  http://www.chopin.net Groves Dictionaries, MacMillan Publishers Limited, UK Retrieved from: http://www.rachmaninov.com Niecks, Frederick. (1902) Chopin, As a Man and a Musician, Gutenberg: Public Domain Pdf. YouTube: Chopins Piano Concerto N° 1 in E minor, Op 11 2nd Movement Romance Larghetto played by Yundi Li Rachmaninovs Piano Concerto N° 2, Op 18 1rst Movement Moderato played by Richter & Rachmaninov Read More