Quote from: Vladimir

Are there any other fans of Rachmaninoff here?

Or the Russian Romantic school in general?


The history of the Russian piano school is really interesting. Muzio Clementi (whose music had considerable influence on Beethoven) taught John Field (whose music is a bit reminiscent of a more Classical and restrained Chopin) and Field stayed in Russia and taught Mikhail Glinka, the father of Russian pianists.

Rachmaninoff is the only one of those (besides Chopin and Beethoven of course) that I've heard of, but I do like his music. I like Borodin and Tchaikovsky too, but not sure if they are of the Russian Romantic school. Tchaikovsky I would consider "romantic" music.

Quote from: theology101

Quote from: Vladimir

Are there any other fans of Rachmaninoff here?

Or the Russian Romantic school in general?


The history of the Russian piano school is really interesting. Muzio Clementi (whose music had considerable influence on Beethoven) taught John Field (whose music is a bit reminiscent of a more Classical and restrained Chopin) and Field stayed in Russia and taught Mikhail Glinka, the father of Russian pianists.

Rachmaninoff is the only one of those (besides Chopin and Beethoven of course) that I've heard of, but I do like his music. I like Borodin and Tchaikovsky too, but not sure if they are of the Russian Romantic school. Tchaikovsky I would consider "romantic" music.

Both Clementi and Field have fallen into obscurity, and only recently has there been a growing interest in the former. A pity, since both were revered up until the 20th century. The former has a lot of enjoyable sonatas in the Classical style and his Gradus ad Parnassum is one of the best technical methods around, since it develops both technique and musicality. The later's nocturnes and piano concerti are exquisite. The solos in the concerti flow like water.

Tchaikovsky is definitely in the Romantic tradition. I've never grown to like his music though. I just went to a concert of his B-flat minor piano concerto the other day, and I must agree with his first critics that the concerto only has a few salvageable moments (for me, this part is the beginning theme in D-flat major - which is never repeated! It is one of my favorite moments in all of music, one of the most glorious and uplifting, but why is it never incorporated into the rest of the concerto?).

Medtner has some nice piano sonatas.

Scriabin, actually has some nice music. His etude in D-sharp minor is spine tingling. His B major prelude is like a dream! One should definitely take the advice of Richter and use Scriabin only as a strong drink on which to occasionally inebriate oneself, as oppose to take him as a daily bread.

As for Rachmaninoff.....is there anyone better?!?
 
 

I like his 3rd Piano Concerto.

Quote from: Vladimir

Quote from: clare

I like his 3rd Piano Concerto.

More than the 2nd?

Yes.

I suppose I'm not overly keen on "All By Myself", which borrowed from the 2nd, and which I knew first!