I love the fact that we can hear the master playing his own compositions. He was, in his day, said to be the world's greatest pianist. He may have been entitled to that.
@@miromudr6690 It may be that these are really played by a Welte piano-playing device. They were gadgets that had 88 levers covering the keyboard, and played back a performance including dynamics and attaks that a typical player piano could not do.
@@LeftyElmo About 45 years ago there was a radio program titled "Keyboard Immortals Play Again" (or something similar) where they would play Ampico and Welte piano player performances. I have looked for a CD of some of them to no luck. Does anyone know where they can be found?
@@tonygreiner931 Sadly, I'm not familiar with the program. I know cd recordings of Rachmaninoff's piano roll performances do exist. I own a 1926 Knabe grand piano with a working Ampico system. My collections includes a dozen or so rolls of Rachmaninoff playing, along with many other amazing performances. These were the recording studio to the stars back in the day.
@@CLAUDIADANEU-Piano agitato means turbulence, whatever speed, but not calm/sleepy as in here. he could ve written "MAESTOSO/CALM/NOBLE" if this is what he meant. (music is not emotion. music is language. "increase in emotion" is a totally void term.)
Rachmaninoff certainly learned plenty from Liszt. Notice how the piece ends without resolution. It's still modern. Some who attempt this piece report that their arms become very tired. No doubt. You also really need a top flight grand piano. Those who were able to see Rachmaninoff play described him as playing with arms of steel and a heart of gold. Best
I just found this piece in my stack of sheet music that I need get around to learning but I don't have the time. I love how it ends with the C# and F# and then every fiber of your being is screaming RESOLVE! :)
@@jmcmurdo I don't think it's without resolution. I think the whole piece is ambiguous as to what the "key" (though it's written in F# minor). F# is a fixed point throughout every section, so it does feel "resolved" at the end but in a weak way.
