"THE RETURN" - Rachmaninoff Prelude in B minor, Op. 32 no. 10 - Analysis 

There is a poem in Chinese describing the exact same emotion of this prelude: 近乡情更怯 不敢问来人 The closer I approach my home, The more worried I feel. So worried that I can’t even talk to people on the side of the road.

I interpret the painting as a medieval crusader coming home. The dress and weapon looks like from that era. So I feel the painting captures a feeling of "what exactly did I accomplish? I was away from home for years and have nothing to show for it. How can I face my wife I left behind now? Will she understand? Or will she blame me for going?"

Went to a Kissin performance in Madrid 3 years ago. He played all 24 Rach Preludes. Most of them I knew and loved. But then he played this one, and something snapped in me. The next day I started learning it, and it is safe to say it is one of my favourite pieces of music ever and it felt at the time like I had found a missing part in my life.

The gift you provide with your musical analysis is the only positive side effect I can see from the pandemic.

I really enjoy your analyses because they don't focus too much on small details. Even though I like it when pieces of music are put through their paces and every little aspect is discussed, I think it's good to look at the forest instead of the trees. Looking at individual details may be good for understanding music theory, but not the entirety of a work. With your analyses you manage to do just that: to present the big picture in an understandable way so that the work as such can be understood. That is what distinguishes your analyses from others here on RU-vid, but also from those in some professional journals. It's a welcome change! The less musical aspects of your videos are also excellent: the quality of the image, editing and sound are simply first class! I want to thank you for putting so much work into your videos despite the still criminally small viewership. I don't make videos myself, but I have friends who work in video production, so I know how much time goes into a single, elaborate video. The effort is enormous, so I think it's great that you let yourself be supported on Patreon. I am happy to contribute!

The whole piece is such a painful story of ambiguity, going back and forth, hope and despair, courage and fear ... it really tears you apart. The only relief you get is during the great chords in the middle part and the amazing climax towards the C major and the descending inversions. And when the coda starts with B major and switches back to minor, it’s like YEEESSS - NO. NO. NO. I love this peace so much. So passionate, so russian.

This is my favorite of the Rachmaninov preludes. Thank you for the insightful analysis!

My piano teacher in middle school let me learn this piece. I think I was too young to understand what I was playing at the time. Thank you for your insightful talk. I’ve played many pieces by Rachmaninov and Homing is still my favorite.

This piece is so sad but at the same time so mature. A kind of resignation somewhat reminiscent of Bruckner but not as much spiritual. Rather, it portrays a personal surrender I guess.

When I played this prelude, I realized that almost no leading-note (A# for Bm) is written. Indeed, A# only appears at 12:03 and 23:37 as a D+5, but none in a A7 chord. It's amazing how such an emotional piece can lack of the V classical dominant, but nevertheless create this nostalgic and dazzling atmosphere. My fauvorite Rachmaninoff's prelude!

Just started this piece. The explanation is wonderfully helpful in interpreting what the music represents. Thank you for your insight!

Remarkably helpful, this will make my learning of this beautiful piece. Thank you from New Zealand

Awesome video! I'm getting a lot from these analyses, they are very helpful!

Love this analysis video and the piece too. You do a really god job of explaining the piece and I always like your interpretation of what feelings the musical aspects are meant to evoke. I never thought of using a major and minor chord right next to each other, but in this piece I think it's really effective in expressing the ambivalence of the specific situation.

thank you so much for the amazing work you put out for us, very useful! good work

The cross-referencing is particularly helpful and cool.

Wonderful analysis! Really enjoyed it!

As always excellent explanation, great video. This and Professor Charles Tebbs' channel are my favorites for learning music. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👏🌷

So good. This has long been my favorite rach prelude. I wish years ago when playing it in college I had all these insights.

Very beautiful and well explanes as always in this channel❤❤❤Thank you!👏👏👏

Thank you!

Great video once again

Amazing video!! 🤟🤟

Brilliant!

This piece always reminds me Schubert's 2nd moment musical, wich is major but with almost the same repetitive melody.

Sadeness is the absolute truth

What piano are you playing on? The bass is so deep but open on the same rime- it sounds fantastic

Vundabar

One may always return to the place, never to the time....

We want grand piano (

My face at 6:36 🤯