Sergei Rachmaninoff plays Daquin "Le coucou"

[46714a]

Damn that backround noise! :(

[lapinot21]

Charmant !

[champagnebubbles13]

@ArMoBaBeX3 : just wanted to point out that Rachmaninov is spelt in many different ways depending on your country of origin, I spell it as above and am English, others spell it 'Rachmaninoff', 'Rakhmaninov', or the same as I do. :D

All that said, he is a brilliant pianist and composer, and has written some fantastic music for piano.

I love the way he has put his own twist on this piece, you can definitely hear the cuckoo - it's a fantastic piece to listen to!

[BjornHegstad]

I find Rachmaninoff's interpretations to be creative, but daring. This is interesting to listen to, and certainly enjoyable. However, referring to this recording to a student who is learning to play baroque music, would do the student no good, as this is not how it is "supposed" to be played.

That being said, I'm also glad that interpretations of unorthodox style exist.

[2ndviolinist]

@BjornHegstad Does the listener really care what baroque playing is supposed to sound like especially when the piece is played on the decidedly un-baroque piano.

[BjornHegstad]

@2ndviolinist I suggest you read my comment again. Audience =/= students.

[2ndviolinist]

@BjornHegstad Are they playing piano or harpsichord?

[BjornHegstad]

@2ndviolinist It is perfectly possible to arrange and perform baroque music on different instruments than the composer intended, while conserving the initial musical and stylistic expressions. Thus, it is perfectly possible for students to learn about the musical and stylistic expressions of baroque music regardless of whether this music is played on harpsichord or piano.

Furthermore, students =/= people who are practicing on this piece. It can also be scholars and other instrumentalists.

[bertiethetoupee4]

Rachmaninov's touch is so light and clear.

[s328169347]

you might wanna take this somewhere to fix the res...cause it sounds like he's playing in the rain..

[truecrypt]

@s328169347

How about engaging part of grey matter to filter out "white noise"?

You might wanna try it... cause it's kind of cool...

[s328169347]

@truecrypt sure if i actually knew what you're talking about

[truecrypt]

@s328169347

It's ok... you're learn... hopefully...;)

[truecrypt]

@s328169347

It's ok... you will learn... hopefully... ;)

[gustavoturm]

@s328169347 White noise is the power of Jesus on the music.

[Noshirm]

@truecrypt HILARIOUS repartee ! (:-D) Spectacular pianism. (:-0)

[cnov7]

the left hand is singing 'coucou'

[SevenCircles]

Never heard this piece before, obviously influenced by Rameou´s song of the birds but hardly as good. Rachmnanov played it great though too bad the recording doesn´t do it justice.

[GingerJoberton]

Well this is an interesting take on it. Rachmaninoff made it sound good, extremely fast. It's giving me something to aspire too. Then again, it IS Rachmaninoff, thus if he can do it, it doesn't necessarily mean I can :). Makes a nice change from the relentless child prodigies though.

[daniel15671]

What a master he was. I'm so used to hearing Rach' playing big bravura romantic and early contemporary things, that his performance of this little gem captivates me. In a performance of an intimate work like this, I think one can hear the affection in his playing.

[vimalarosa]

full of grace! love to hear him playing the cocoo

[moonpagan]

His left hand articulation is magnificant. I love it. I guess it's to be expected since he is the Master/King. ;-)

Ron.

( ;-} >

[tnok930]

1920!!!amazing!!!!!!

[LibrePensador87]

Magistral!

[gitaclick]

his playing is so gentle and precise..beautiful, thanx

[brittmusic]

Cool recording. I just posted a video of me playing this piece on a pipe organ.

[ArMoBaBeX3]

@RMAOA you're one to talk! uh, you kinda spelled Rachmaninoff wrong ;p so i doubt your a professional

[ArMoBaBeX3]

@RMAOA do you realize how stupid you sound?? you "just" started to learn english 10 YEARS AGO? wow. & how exactly does not "speaking english well" have anything to do with spelling Rachmaninoff? Rachmaninoff is a RUSSIAN composer. wow. i can see how professional you are :p &naww. its k. my grandmas a professional piano teacher. Ive been playing piano for 8 years & counting, so i don't need to receive your little lessons. :p

[ColtHz]

It's not a "song" - it's a composition or piece for piano. A "song" is a poem set to musical accompaniment (viz. piano), hence a composition for VOICE.

[xseventyytwo]

WORD!

[TehKMS]

@ ColtHz: Correct.

[djvardar]

@ColtHz

Common usage has allowed for "song" to apply to any given piece of music, but I understand where you're coming from. In modern, electronic music, producers often refer to pieces as simply, "tracks" - since they admit that electronic instrumentals and the like do not qualify for the original definition of "song".

[GiocosoGlissando]

do you have this in better quality?

[gradwhan]

this was from 1920!

[wattever333]

still 1920 could sound better with today's technology. This hiss seems very constant, therefore easy to remove. Actually I've never heard such a loud hiss on something from 1920, even in LPs published in the 60s.

[Ecthelon]

I remember hating this song more than anything when I was learning it, but hearing Rachmaninof play this piece, I realized how great it was.

[grantco1313]

I'd think it way too fast...

[TehKMS]

If anything, it's a shade slow.

[driemaaldrommels]

the best!

[HwangMyungShin]

Very musical.

[piano50]

Thanks for posting!

[ZenityChenity]

That was great!

But just for all the people saying this is the "best" remember that there's always room for improvement and there isn't really always a "best." Just saying.

[zuzu1025]

Wow, amazing control of both hands, amazing indeed

[momo1729]

He's the best player of ' The Coucou ', I think.

[givemetime123]

Cziffra is wonderfull too in these piece.

[joaharu]

Amazing technique. Mastery of each key.

He is Horowitz without the romantic deviation

and manipulation of the opus.

[gdan666666]

A masterful performance.

[TYSOHN]

What a shame recording techniques were in their infancy during Rachman's days.

[jensbond1978]

Excellent! No one brings out the coucou better than in this rendition... Rachmaninoff is an inspiration.

[bestofpianiste]

Rachmaninoff is really the best

[happytalk100]

thanks for posting this, i found it really useful and interesting!