Rachmaninoff Segments

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff

---- Play Order ----
I. Symphonic Dance Mov.1 Segment - 0:00
II. Symphony No.2 Mov.3 Segment - 1:38
III. Symphony No.2 Mov.3 Segment - 2:52
IV. Piano Concert No.3 Mov.2 Segment - 4:27
V. Vespers Segment - 6:12

- These are some of my favorite moments in Rachmaninoff orchestration. There are five in total...

1: Symphonic Dance Mov.1 ending - One might notice the similarity between this theme we hear and one near the middle-end of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No.1, Movement 1. Only this time rather than being march-like the rhythm has been toned down for an emotionally mature and rich sound. It is a beautiful ending to the first movement of Rachmaninoff's last piece. It is performed by Leonard Slatkin

2: Symphony No.2, Movement 1, beginning portion - This is performed by the San Francisco Youth Orchestra.

3: Symphony No.2, Movement 3, beginning portion - This is also performed by the San Francisco Youth Orchestra

4: Piano Concerto 3, Movement 2, ending portion - A beautiful waltz segment perhaps inspired by the Tchaikovsky concerto. I find this to be an overlooked segment within the great concerto 3 by Rachmaninoff. The pianist is Leif Ove Andsnes.

5: Vespers, Blagosloven Jesi, Gospodi (Blessed be the Lord) - All of Rachmaninoff's Vespers are transcendentally spiritual pieces. This one in particular has a very interesting theme in the end. It is the same exact theme that is built into the 3rd movement of Rachmaninoff's symphonic dances, particularly the finale portion. Since the symphonic dances are the last pieces by Rachmaninoff, I find that ending with this theme might have had a large significance for Rachmaninoff. I am no scholar, but since the theme from the vesper praises the lord, it might be indeed a spiritual summation for Rachmaninoff; a man seemingly plagued by the concept of death. It is performed by the Robert Shaw Festival Singers

Blagosloven Jesi, Gospodi - English translation

All the angel host were amazed
when they beheld thee among the dead;
yet destroying all the might of death, O Saviour,
with thyself thou didst deliver Adam,
and from Hades didst redeem us.
"Wherefore mingle ye the sweet smelling ointment,
O ye disciples, with your pitying tears?"
shining from the tomb spake the Angel
to the women bearing spices:
"Behold ye the tomb, and be of good cheer,
for he is not here, but is risen."
Very early came the myrrh-bearing women,
lamenting sorely, to the sepulcher:
but before them stood an Angel and said:
"The time of your mourning is past;
lament no more,
but go and tell the apostles that he is risen."
When the myrrh-bearing women
drew nigh thy sepulchre, O Saviour, they mourned:
but an angel spake unto them, saying:
"Why seek ye the living among the dead?
As God he has risen from the grave."
Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Let us worship the Father with the Son
and the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Trinity, three in one and one in three;
let us cry with the angels
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth,
as it is and shall be ever, world without end.
Amen.
Thou, O Holy Virgin, bringing forth the Lord,
ransomedst Adam
and gavest joy for sorrow unto Eve:
they whom from life had fallen are restored
by the Saviour incarnate of thee, both God and man.
Alleluia! Glory be to thee, O God.

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