Sergei Rachmaninoff`s Piano Concertos

The story of Rachmaninoff s life and career is
perhaps one of the most unusual among those of famous
composers. Not only did Rachmaninoff live in two
centuries, experiencing many changes in
music, literature, theater and art, but he also
witnessed momentous changes in Russia, as well as the
impact of world events on Russian history: the end of
the Tsar s Russia with the Revolution of 1917 and the
First and Second World Wars. Numerous identified and
unidentified sources have called Rachmaninoff the
last Romantic of the twentieth century, implying
that his style remained firmly in the Romantic
tradition throughout his career, untouched by
twentieth century musical influences. In fact,
though, his style did evolve, but it did so in ways
which were so smooth and subtle that the changes were
almost unnoticed.This book focuses on the evolution
of Sergei Rachmaninoff s musical style as illustrated
by his four Piano Concertos and the Rhapsody on a
Theme by Paganini, comparing different stylistic
features such as orchestration, harmonic and melodic
language, and the relationship between the piano and
the orchestra.

Autorentext
Russian pianist Anastassia Ivanova has performed in Russia, Europe and USA and has won numerous awards worldwide. She holds Doctor Of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Ivanova currently resides in Washington DC, USA

Klappentext
The story of Rachmaninoff's life and career is perhaps one of the most unusual among those of famous composers. Not only did Rachmaninoff live in two centuries, experiencing many changes in music, literature, theater and art, but he also witnessed momentous changes in Russia, as well as the impact of world events on Russian history: the end of the Tsar's Russia with the Revolution of 1917 and the First and Second World Wars. Numerous identified and unidentified sources have called Rachmaninoff "the last Romantic of the twentieth century," implying that his style remained firmly in the Romantic tradition throughout his career, untouched by twentieth century musical influences. In fact, though, his style did evolve, but it did so in ways which were so smooth and subtle that the changes were almost unnoticed.This book focuses on the evolution of Sergei Rachmaninoff's musical style as illustrated by his four Piano Concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, comparing different stylistic features such as orchestration, harmonic and melodic language, and the relationship between the piano and the orchestra.