Rachmaninoff Plays his Elegie, Op 3 No 1

Add &fmt=18 to the URL to hear in stereo. Ampico reproducing roll recorded in high resolution, released in 1929. Played back on a freshly restored Ampico demonstration concert grand piano. Roll 69253-H played by Rachmaninoff.

A web site gives details of this piano and has podcasts of seven other perfomances http://web.me.com/bobtaylor5/Ampico/Welcome.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• AMICA
• automatic
• music
• MBSI
• REPRODUCING
• PIANO
• classical

[jacobbpitt]

where can i find a high quality recording of this??

[ampicoab]

@jacobbpitt I can provide the file that was used in this You tube. It is an AIFF file of some 64 mb. Let me know how to send it.

[pianist2012]

Personally, I believe this rendition is a bit fast in several spots, but the passion and rubato is a bit greater in this than in Gavrilov's. If you hear this piece for the first time, it enthralls you, like it did for me. When you've actually worked on the piece, you realize that ALL music needs an individual interpretation, including music that has been interpretted by the composer himself. Rachmaninoff was a genius, but I do not particularly agree with everything in this interpretation.

[ampicoab]

@pianist2012 If everyone played each composition the same way, life would be very boring. The performer is the interpreter and not a robot. There can be many different and excellent ways of performing the same composition. The same music means different things to different people. Variety is good.

[analyticaa]

Prefer Gavrilov's version. "But this is by Rachmaninoff himself, what are you retarded?" Sorry, Gavrilov's is better.

[ampicoab]

@analyticaa We have different tastes, and that is fine. I find the Gavrilov rendition so slow that I lose interest. In my opinion, a eulogy should be more than just somber, it should have some passion, too.

Maybe some more opinions could surface regarding tempo.

[sfatlarge]

This is the BEST performance of the ELEGY of Rachmaninoff on an actual AMPICO reproducing piano. Gentlemen, and ladies, we have just heard Sergi Rachmaninoff play!

[alejandrothefader]

@ampicoab i don't know anything more than this rendition... as soon as i heard this, all other versions lost their charm... this is how it should be played... a fiery lament with passion and colour..... like the boss does

[physic103]

I think roll was reproduced a bit fast. But Rachmaninov interpretation is best at all.

[lryl9130]

practicing this piece right now... this recording is awesome but i won't be able to play this fast

[Bret6464]

@analyticaa

This is Rachmaninoff performing HIS "Elegy" - the eulogy he composed for a friend - and what Rach wanted to convey in EMOTION, and to invoke emotion in the listener, assuming one is capable of emoting! :-)

This is NOT an "interpretation"

This is the "right" tempo - to suggest otherwise is sheer folly!

Gavrilov, Ashkenazy and other "interpretations" are fine, one may "prefer" one - but to suggest any interpretation is "better" than Rach is total nonsense, sorry. :-))

[pianist2012]

@ampicoab I definitely agree with you, but I also believe that both performer and pianist grow by finding what they like in music or how they express themselves in music. That's the reason why so many agree or disagree with a certain interpretation of a piece. Any pianist true to what he believes is an accurate representation of himself manifested into a piece is certainly got my respect. I may not always agree with his interpretation, but he has found the true meaning of the piece.

[WelteMax]

@ampicoab Could i have one of those two? it the best am pico recording I've ever heard!=)

[paderuski1]

Sergei's treatment of this piece is perfect!

[jacobbpitt]

@ampicoab my email is jacobbpitt@gmail.com

[alejandrothefader]

@BrookHornblower cause they re masterized i suppose? and because rachmaninoff was the boss, with hands that were like a giant's and one of the best techniques ever...