Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances Op. 45 - 1. Non Allegro

[TheMer1995]

My high school marching band played this along with variations on a theme of paganini...Brilliant

[Flutist11]

Compare the melody and mood of this piece to "From the Middle Ages: The Troubador's Serenade" by Glazunov.

[debdessaso]

This is beautiful--but if you want to hear the entire piece played breathlessly, exquisitely flawless, get the version recorded by Eugene Ormandy and (I believe) the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra.

[LJBSasha]

Too fast and somewhat mechanical a tempo robs it of some of the emotional impact.

4/5

[symbian1530]

0:39 Alto Saxophone solo. One of the most beautiful orchestral solo ever wrote.

[2cgod]

To be able to create such beauty, it is beyond my understanding. Luckily all I need do is enjoy! God bless those who are gifted with musical talent, a rare and precious gift.

[Alagnapassion]

Thank you very much!!!!

This is simply beyond words...

[sulbirness]

This is missing the whole introduction!

Regardless, I just played the saxophone solo myself with an orchestra...

Best thing I have ever played, and I'm only 16!

Thankyou Mr. Rachmaninov :)

[samoy10]

This is really one of Rachmaninov's gems. It really show's his genius for both melody and orchestration and it certainly pulls at the heart strings! As Josef Hoffman (R's favourite pianist) commented 'he has arms of steel and a heart of gold'.

I can also thoroughly recommend the 3rd Movement of the 2nd Symphony which is written in a similar style to this extract. Especially for those of you who might not yet have discovered it. One of favourite pieces ever!

[LJBSasha]

Rakhmáñinov was a genius of the 1st order in everything he did - the only thing that made him inferior to Mozart was that he couldn't concertise as a pianist OR as a conductor OR compose in the same general time-period. He had to focus on each activity to the exclusion of the other two. [Had it been otherwise, he might have been able to leave us more - the really sad thing (especially for us organists) is that he died just when he was in the early stages of composing an organ concerto for

[LJBSasha]

his friend, the Belgian-American organist Charles Courboin!! What a wonderful addition to the concerto-repertoire generally AND especially for the otherwise very-weak repertoire for organ and orchestra that likely would have been given his very high standards!!!!]

Also, what an irony that the cancer that killed him stopped him in the midst of his last intended piano-concert tour and had him die in - of all places! - Beverley Hills, California!!!

Great composer in all events!!!!

[bishop7407]

I have enjoyed this piece of Rachmaninoff's catolog since 1979. Probably one of my favorite pieces of any composer.  Thanks.

[cosmi91ro]

omg...this is breathtaking...:D

[luisbailo]

Such a beautiful piece. Every day I am learning new things about Rach's music. I did start admiring this composer after listening to its Piano Concerto No 2 and since them I am craving for more of his works...the preludes, etudes, choral...and today this one. So much to love...

"earthatic', please don't delay to much that post with Ashkenazy, one of my favorites conductors. I am very much looking for it.

Thanks too to "DarkRaimundo for uploading this beauty"

[ThaSchwab]

This is the best work he ever wrote. Concerto No. 2 comes close.

[earthatic]

It is such an amazing piece! I am planning to upload the whole of the Symphonic Dances with Ashkenazy conducting soon.

This was his last composition!! It definitely does show how much passion is in his music. Thanks for uploading!