The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Russian: Рапсодия на
тему Паганини, Rapsodiya na temu Paganini) in A minor, opus 43, is a concertante work (20 to 25 minutes in length), written by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It is written for solo piano and
symphony orchestra, closely resembling a piano
concerto. The work was written at Villa Senar, according to the score, from
July 3 to August 18 1934.
Rachmaninoff himself, a noted interpreter of his own works, played the solo piano part at the piece's premiere at the
Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, Maryland
on November 7 1934 with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski.
Structure
The piece is a set of 24 variations on the twenty-fourth and last of
Niccolò Paganini's Caprices
for solo violin, which has inspired works by several
composers.
- Introduction: Allegro vivace - Variation I (Precedente)
- Tema: L'istesso tempo
- Variation II: L'istesso tempo
- Variation III: L'istesso tempo
- Variation IV: Più vivo
- Variation V: Tempo precedente
- Variation VI: L'istesso tempo
- Variation VII: Meno mosso, a tempo mederato
- Variation VIII: Tempo I
- Variation IX: L'istesso tempo
- Variation X: L'istesso tempo
- Variation XI: Moderato
- Variation XII: Tempo di minuetto
- Variation XIII: Allegro
- Variation XIV: L'istesso tempo
- Variation XV: Più vivo scherzando
- Variation XVI: Allegretto
- Variation XVII: Allegretto
- Variation XVIII: Andante cantabile
- Variation XIX: A tempo vivace
- Variation XX: Un poco più vivo
- Variation XXI: Un poco più vivo
- Variation XXII: Un poco più vivo (Alla breve)
- Variation XXIII: L'istesso tempo
- Variation XXIV: A tempo un poco meno mosso
Although Rachmaninoff's work is performed in one stretch with no breaks, it can be divided into three sections, corresponding
to the three movements of a concerto: up to variation 11 corresponds to the first movement,
variations 12 to 18 are the equivalent of a slow movement, and the remaining variations make a finale.[1]
Composition
After a brief introduction, the first variation is played before the theme. Paganini's theme is stated on strings with
the piano picking out salient notes, after the first variation. Rachmaninoff likely got the idea of having a variation
before the theme from the the finale of Beethoven's Eroica symphony.[2] Variations II to VI recombine elements of the theme. The pauses and rhetorical flourishes for the
piano in variation VI herald a change of tempo and tone. The piano next gravely intones the Dies
Irae, the "day of wrath" plainchant from the medieval Mass of the Dead, while the
orchestra accompanies with a slower version of the opening motif of the Paganini theme. The piece is one of several by
Rachmaninoff to quote the Dies Irae plainchant melody.
The slow eighteenth variation is by far the most well-known, and it is often included on classical music compilations without
the rest of the work. It is based on an inversion of the melody of Paganini's theme.
Rachmaninoff himself recognized the appeal of this variation, noting "This one, is for my agent."[3] This variation has been featured in several movies, including [4]
In collaboration with Rachmaninoff, the choreographer Michel Fokine created the ballet Paganini using Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini as the
score. It was premiered in 1939 at Covent Garden in England.
Selected Recordings
- Sergei Rachmaninoff, pianist, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Leopold
Stokowski, recorded in 1934 (world premiere recording).
- William Kapell, pianist, with the Robin Hood Dell
Orchestra, conducted by Fritz Reiner, recorded in 1951.
- Arthur Rubinstein, pianist, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Fritz Reiner,
recorded in 1956.
References
- ^ Rachmaninov -
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini notes by Paul Serotsky. Retrieved January 21,
2007.
- ^ Steinberg, Michael. "The Concerto: a listeners guide". p. 367-370. Oxford
University Press, 1998.
- ^ Steinberg, Michael. "The Concerto: a listeners guide". p. 367-370. Oxford
University Press, 1998.
- ^ Sergei Rachmaninov page at the Internet Movie Database
External links
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