Dave Gaebler Recital 20071114--07. Rachmaninoff Elegie

Opus 3#1, from the Fantasy Pieces.

In his memoir "I Really Should Be Practicing", Juilliard professor Gary Graffman relates how he used to try to impress girls in bars by playing the piano, and eventually figured out that he only really needed two pieces: Liszt's "La Campanella" and Rachmaninoff's Elegy. What's more, he got to where he could usually tell just by looking at a girl whether she would be the type to go for the bittersweet harmonies of Rachmaninoff or the pyrotechnics of Paganini-Liszt. He concludes the anecdote, "Most blondes prefer La Campanella".

Ever since I learned La Campanella a decade ago, my mom's been teasing me with "When are you going to learn that Elegy"?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rachmaninoff
• Piano
• Gaebler

[preciousbash]

Not he easiest pece to get through. requries inanse timing. Pretty damned good!! Keep at it!

[RITAbakes]

i knew it and i enjoy it

[brodux3]

I really enjoyed this, and I think you did a great job. One piece of advice I'd like to offer is for the passage starting at 1:47, the left hand plays the melody for a bit, so try to bring that out a bit more and maybe play softer on the right hand so your left hand can really sing. :)

[ChrisWatch]

you can tell everyone here on youtube Didn't know Rachmaninoff recorded himself playing this on a Ampico Piano roll.

[Daggerhart]

There is something, it's called a dolly, and it's used for moving grand pianos. look again. :)

[zachariusz]

That's not Gary Graffman.

[RupertSwitz]

There is nothing underneath the piano.. look again, it's probably just a background! Good playing Gary! Very intimate touch that you put into this piece!

[pianofolle]

what the heck is there underneath piano???

[hommefriday]

Gary Graffman playing Rachmaninoff got me practicing again after 40 years. His playing transmits a force I feel when I hear him playing. Learning later of his courage, I knew why.