Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C Sharp Minor (Op. 3 No. 2) 

Sometimes it's hard to believe that Rachmaninoff was only 18 when he composed this piece. For those that don't know the story behind it: it is said that Rachmaninoff had a dream where he was at a funeral, and in the distance was a coffin. At 1:24 begins walking towards it, faster and faster. At 2:09 he opens it and... finds himself inside.

I'm happy to say after 2 weeks I finally have mastered the first three chords.

Every pianist *had* their own drugs Liszt: *o c t a v e s* Rachmaninoff: *c h o r d s* Mozart: *habit of making good tunes* Chopin: *all of the above* Beethoven: *can't hear it*

I was so touched and honored that my friend asked me to play piano at her wedding so I played this

“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninoff

*Only 1800’s emo kids remember this absolute banger*

2:05 As a metal fan, I can say that this is the most heavy metal moment in all of classical music. Gives me goosebumps.

I first heard this piece 5 years ago, and as a beginner pianist i wondered if i could ever play it, many hundreds of noisy hours later and learning many easier pieces I managed to learn it which is shocking, just goes to show never give up on your dreams no matter how tough they are.

I heard that Rachmaninoff got sick of people asking him to play this because it was so popular! XD -Andrew

Clair De Lune sounds like Life, and this piece sounds like Death.

There’s such a menacing feeling that comes from this piece. It’s not fear, but this feeling of dread and hopelessness. Sends chills down my spine every time.

The emotion and depth of the chords after 2:09 just blows me away, I love this piece

Little tip: don’t play this at family gatherings when they ask you to play something

2:09 gives me so many goosebumps,this is the most haunting part of classic piano music I've ever heard.

Legend has it that Rachmaninoff played this with one hand, and with the other hand he wrote this piece in paper

Oh I remember one memorable morning when I first heard this masterpiece... Back then I lived opposite the Music Conservoire. It was warm early Summer's Sunday morning and someone was blasting this piece with their window open (and so was mine across the street). I've listened in awe. More and more entangled in Music... I immediately thought 'It MUST be Rachmaninoff!' and then 'I GOTTA find this piece' So I went through all his preludes (my first thought) and thus - found this mastepiece. I was about 14/15 years old.

If you hear this on a public piano in an airport before your flight.... skip the flight please.

I swear this guy can play every single piece in this world

Imagine walking in a abandoned house at night and entering in a destroyed room with a piano at the center which is playing this piece by itself

I stumbled upon Rachmaninoff when I was in a very dark place in my life. The first time that I ever listened, I found I had tears streaming down my face while my soul was purged of heavy emotion in an almost orgasmic release. It is my absolute favorite piano composition that exists. Thank you for this wonderful video!

2:09 you can feel one's terror of seeing self in the coffin...........

My first concert piece. After 60 years I can still play and enjoy the gift Mother gave me. Thank you Mom.

The most metal piano piece ever written.

Am I the only one who thinks that the chords at 2:09 sound a lot like a thunderclap? This gives the piece so much more emotion

This piece was the first time I saw a « sffff » on a sheet of music 😂

Dear God I swear I’m gonna lose it with these “simply piano” ads

Little hand size pianist: T_T Rachmaninoff playing the whole piece with only one hand: ???

I played this piece for a competition a month or two ago, believe me that it it one of the most beautiful preludes of all time.

God: So how big do you want your hands to be? Rachmaninoff: Y E S

**has a dream about going to a funeral only to see myself in the coffin** Me: Hehe, I wish. Rachmaninoff: **writes a masterpiece of piano repertoire that he ends up hating**

the best piece I've ever heard in my life, I can feel in my skin what rachmaninoff felt in the dream, the horror, the despair, it's just wonderful.

Those first three chords really show how menacing the song is gonna be! Love it!

2:58 I think right around here, he wakes up. The notes almost sound like deep breathing.

People: piano music is boring... Rachmaninoff: hold my beer...

Thank you Rousseau. Covid killed a lot of my passion and motivation as a musician, but your channel reignited that passion as well as a new passion for improving at piano. You've made a big difference for me :)

The speed.... Have gotten to 1:53 now. To practice just a single second of this takes enourmous time. Great respect to those who have mastered this piece, not to speak of many of the other mesmerizing pieces by Rach

*1806 composers: i hope people remember us and remember our music..* *2019 people: People arguing whether lizst or chopin has harder music*

If you hear a recital with this piece, run. Run for your life.

2:09 always sends shivers down my spine

My father was a concert pianist when he was a young man. He didn't play much when I was growing up. But every once in awhile he would sit at my piano and play something. One day it was the Prelude. As he played, I could feel it in my chest. It was visceral. From that day on, it was my favorite piece and I practiced all the time. I did not yet have the skills nor the finger reach to play it. Eventually though I was able to play it for him. He was so proud. I can't put my finger on what makes this piece so haunting, so timeless, so emotional. That is, of course, what makes classical music so great. I was raised on classical music, as well as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, etc, and they were all before my time so to speak. Even when I moved into rock I never lost my enjoyment of listening to that on which I was raised. It makes me sad for young people who think that Kanye West is classic. And I do not say that to belittle anyone's choice in music. I do however, wish that today's young people would experience some of the great music that was written prior to 2010. I see the great enjoyment experienced by those children that do. Thank you for the concert. It was played well.

Can you play piano? Rachmaninoff: only chords

The part at 2:08 is the most terrifying thing I've ever heard played on piano.

I dont care what anyone says. anybody who can play the piano and remember every note in a piece like this is born gifted.

I love this piece! I listen it almost every day on your channel! Pure perfection! My respect!👏

Let me tell you a story: Rachmaninoff finds himself at a funeral. Sad the day was, like most funerals. He saw his brother giving a speech at the front, but wasn't bothered to listen to it, as he was still trying to remember who died for this funeral, he tried his hardest, but couldn't recall. He started to wonder a few things as he looked around the room, his mother, crying, and his father, comforting her. Who had died that could make them so sad? He wondered this to himself, he knew everyone at the funeral as well, it must've been a close relative if he knew everyone there. They where lining up to see the fallen in their coffin, and with each step Rachmaninoffs heart beat quicker. People where giving him funny looks, and started to suspect something about who died. Sweat was slowly falling down his face as he slowly walked too the coffin, his mother in front of him. He heard It in the back, one of his pieces where being played as he got closer. Time slowed down, each step forward felt like 10 seconds of work, as he grew increasingly nervous. It was his turn up to see the person who lay. He took the first step and breathed in, he was profusely sweating now, as he took the last step. He found himself, inside the coffin. Laying there dead, eyes closed. Rachmaninoff was horrified. He wanted to run. Oh what was he to do, run away, or continually stare at his dead body. The more he looked, the more he felt himself break down, he looked at his hand as his skin started to fade away, into grew dust, he saw his own skeleton. Everyone stood there watching in horror as he screamed in agony. "I wasn't ready to die!" He screamed and cried as he slowly turned into dust. Just then he woke up in his bed screaming. Realizing what just happened he calmed down as his breath slowed down, slowly until he went back to sleep.

This is one of my favorite pieces by far, the compelling feel of despair and helplessness give off such a dark tone and makes you truly feel scared

There's something so satisfying about 2:07 with 10 notes played at the same time

This piece encapsulates the Russian soul: dark, mysterious, enigmatic, ineffable, eternal.

Me: I could totally play this, its all chords. 1:26 Me: . . . oh no.

Well, that escalated quickly

This piece has taken me years to master. It is one of the most gratifying songs that you can play on the piano.

1:24 - 2:09 is my fav part

Who else got goosebumps at 2:09

I know a lot of people are commenting that this is being played too fast, which is true, but personally I think it sounds amazing. Where the original piece to me sounds very eerie and scary even, the way Rousseau is playing it feels so much more oppressive, like someone drowing under the weight of all their personal demons. Amazing job, as always

I recently started really studying this piece. The first thing I noticed on your video was the use of the 2, 3 finger on the C# keys in the beginning. Bravo! I love your videos!

Heavy metal before electricity 🤘🏻🔥 Mr Rachmaninoff blessing us with his heavy chords 🔥

Imagine this piece being played at a public piano in the railway I’d sure get terrified to go inside the train

Can we talk a moment about how emotionally draining this piece can be to learn. The dynamics are all over the place.

RU-vid debería tener un botón que diga "Me encanta". Maravillosa interpretación. Saludos desde Uruguay.

Absolutely breathtaking! Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C-sharp minor" is a true masterpiece that never fails to leave me in awe. The emotion and passion conveyed through the piano is truly captivating, and the virtuosity of the piece is simply incredible. Thank you for sharing this gem of a video, it's a true joy to listen to.

The first ever metal song

2:08 Breaking News: Origin of the beat drop has been discovered!

I love this masterpiece! I’m so glad you were able to play this. Awesome Job!!

This is the first video of your channel I ever saw years ago, and I have been following ever since. Love all of the beautiful music, and videos. Thank you and sending positive energy to you!

it looks like his thumbs are fencing 0:36

Everyone: analysing the piece and talking about it's deep themes. Me: just want to learn it so i can scare people while talking to them.

Хвала за предивно извођење, улепшали сте ми петак. Тек сам Вас сад открила, али радујем се и даље сваком понедељку.

rachmaninoff was crazy ,his songs were from another planet👽

This is one of those pieces where I think I can play it, but when I start to; I can’t

I’ve been practicing this piece for few months now for a concert in September, I keep doing mistakes and I am so nervous. Bravo to all the pianists who played this wonderful piece👌🏽

1:07 - 1:23 is my favorite part of the whole song. It feels dreadful, ill, impending, downcast, mourning, and nauseating. That singular part is the true underdog of this piece.

one of the greatest compositions of all time my love for rach will never fade away.

I like the red bars from 2:09 to the end. It gives the piece a darker quality. It looks like embers and smoke from Hell.

What's worse... 1920: Rachmaninoff dream 2020: Coffin dance

L'arte di comunicare....la classe innata...le melodie con le prestigiose note sempre contemporanee.Roussou...e il mito continua.Ascolto con passione...grazie!

I first heard this when I was a 9 year old kid, and it haunted me all my life. The irony is that I heard it being played on a children's record called Sparky's Magic Piano! So this is nostalgic as well as being powerfully emotional. ♥

Right now I'm listening to this piece in a train and I feel like it's going to be my best day if I can arrive the next station.

I played piano for 10 years, stopping before I started college. This was by far my favorite song to play.

I know absolutely nothing about classclical music. I only searched this because I saw a guy playing this on RU-vid with his dog 🤭 But honestly, this has to be one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard

You play this and everything else so beautifully! Thank you for your wonderful videos!💗

This is a tale. A sad tale. Turns into anger. Rage. Then acceptance. Then into surrender.

The piece hits completly different when u know the backstory of his creation

This is one of the best performances i have heard in my life. KEEP GOING

"Your father did not beat you enough" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

For 3 minutes and 52 seconds my life was amazing Now back to quarantine...

Who else got chills once those red notes hit? Oh my....those chords are just so....how would you describe them?

Исполнено с душой, отражая единство и противоречия человеческой натуры, душевных порывов, дум, стремлений. Спасибо.🎉

I was getting the chills while listening to this song from start to end. Your piano playing is so good. Subscribed. :]

Guys, im at 1:36 i have alot to go 😭😭 Edit: I'm at 1:43 now 😬 still have plenty to go 2nd Edit: At 1:54 now, it's a bit tough but I won't give up.💪 March 11, 3rd Edit: Finally at 2:08😰 Now it's time to release terror😈 March 27, 4th Edit: I have officially completed this piece. It's tough for me but I've managed to learn the entire thing. FOR EVERYONE LEARNING THIS PIECE, YOU CAN DO IT!!! I BELIEVE!! Update July 28, 2021: lol so uh, I forgot how to play it now bc I didn't practice for a full month😐(don't stop practicing, people)

The fact that I know someone who can play this is insane. The skill this person must possess. Blows my mind away.

This piece really is something, I discovered Rachmaninoff with it and instantly felt in love, what a great pianist he was !

shivers up and down my spine, visuals are adding even more to the experience, wow

this beat drop makes me feel like an evil anime character

Great playing and visualisation effects. You may already be aware of this, but the D notes at 0:33 and 2:26 are quite famous. In many publications they are written with accidentals as D natural (as you played), forming a E chord with dominant 7. However, it is now believed they are meant to be played as D sharps (from the key signature) forming an E chord with major 7. The D sharps are how Rachmaninov played it on audio recordings and pianola rolls. The D naturals are probably an early editorial error that was copied into many later versions. Anyway, this doesn’t detract from this performance, but I think it is good to know. For what it’s worth, I personally prefer the D sharps because they give it an extra ‘bite’, but maybe because I’m used to hearing it that way.

A beautiful piece. Delicate, mournful and even a bit nostalgic.

Man, this guy is really good at Tetris.

Feels the intensity of it....... And now knowing the back story wtf

Rachmaninov's pieces always mesmerize me, no wonder he's one of my (and my parents) favourite composers. His music makes me feel closer to home

My favorite piano piece

I've always loved the chords and power of this piece. It was the only one I could play halfway decently.