Works by Rachmaninov: list. Famous works of Rachmaninov

The great Russian composer, pianist and conductor Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov is the author of a huge number of works of various genres - from sketches to operas. His genius music is known all over the world. Rachmaninov's famous works are still heard in different parts of the earth today. He began composing music at the age of five, and when he was 13, he was introduced to PI Tchaikovsky, who highly appreciated his talent.

The works of Rachmaninov are impregnated with romance and lyrics, energy and freedom. A special embodiment of his music is the theme of the Motherland.

Rachmaninov's works - list

Let's give a list of works that the composer gave to the world:

• Four concerts for piano and orchestra;
• Three symphonies;
• Three operas;
• Suite "Symphonic Dances";
• Vocalise for a voice accompanied by a piano, dedicated to the opera singer Antonina Nezhdanova;
• 3 poems ("Prince Rostislav", "Bells" and "Island of the Dead");
• 2 symphonies
• Five pieces of fantasy for piano;
• 2 sonatas for piano;
• Sonata and two pieces for cello with pianoforte;
• Capriccio on the Roma themes;
• Two pieces for cello and piano;
• Cantata "Spring";
• Six pieces for piano four hands
• 2 works for the choir a cappella;
• Clutches "Cliff".

And also foreplay, etudes, romances, Russian songs and so on.

Student years of the composer

In 1882, Sergei entered the Conservatory in St. Petersburg, and from 1885 continued his further education in the Moscow Conservatory immediately at two offices - pianoforte and composition. In 1981, Rakhmaninov graduated with a gold medal from the piano department, and a year later he completed his studies as a composer.

The works of Rachmaninov (list), which he wrote in his student years:

• Concert for pianoforte and orchestra №1;
• The youth symphony;
• The symphonic poem "Prince Rostislav", written according to the work of A. Tolstoy, which was first performed for the public after the author's death;
• Opera "Aleko", the plot for which served as a poem by A.S. Pushkin, became the diploma work of Rachmaninov on the composition department.

Works written in 1893-1899

In 1893 Rachmaninov wrote the Elegical Trio entitled "The Memory of the Great Artist", which was dedicated to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and was created on the occasion of his death. In this work, one hears the sorrow of loss and at the same time bright memories of a great man, as well as philosophical arguments about how fleeting life is. Other works of Rachmaninov, which he wrote between 1893 and 1899: the symphonic fantasy "Cliff", Musical moments for piano, prelude for piano in the sharp minor. The year 1895 was marked by the writing of Symphony No. 1, which premiered only two years after its creation. The symphony failed, the composer perceived himself as creatively untenable and for several years acted exclusively as a pianist and conductor, he did not write music.

1900s in the creative life of the composer

At this time, the composer overcomes the creative crisis and begins to write again. From this time begins the most fruitful period in his work. Rachmaninov's musical works created in these years:

• Second concert for piano and orchestra;
• Sonata for cello and piano;
• Cantata "Spring", which was created on the poems of NA Nekrasov;
• Symphony number 2;
• Concert number 3 for pianoforte and orchestra;
• A gloomy symphonic poem "The Island of the Dead", on which the composer was inspired by a black and white copy of Arnold Becklin's mystical picture.

In the period from 1904 to 1906 Sergei Vasilievich wrote two one-act operas: "Francesca da Rimini" by Dante and "Miserly Knight" based on the work of Alexander Pushkin. In 1906, both operas were staged at the Bolshoi Theater, but they did not receive wide popularity. At the same time Rachmaninov worked on the opera "Monna Vanna" (on the plot of the play by M. Maeterlinck), but it remained incomplete.

In 1910, the composer turned to choral music and wrote the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, in 1913 - the poem "The Bells", and in 1915 - the liturgical composition "All-night Vigil." Two notebooks of preludes for piano and as many notebooks of "Etudes-pictures" were created.

In 1917, the composer went on tour and did not return to Russia. Until his death, he lived in the United States. In the first nine years of his life in exile, Sergei Vasilievich did not write music. After these nine years he wrote Concerto No. 4 for pianoforte and orchestra (a not very well-known work, in the lifetime of the author, which had no success and several times been forwarded by himself), "Three Russian Songs" (a tragic work in which the longing for Russia is embedded) , Variations on the theme of Corelli (which have an unusual form for this genre of music), the famous Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini, Symphony No. 3, "Symphonic Dances" for the orchestra. The last works of Rachmaninov are permeated with longing for their homeland.

Romances

The vocal works of Rakhmaninov complete the history of the Russian classical romance of the pre-revolutionary era. List of romances written by Sergei Vasilyevich in different years:

• "At the gates of the monastery" verses M. Yu. Lermontov;
• "In the silence of the night" on the words of A. Fet;
• "Do you remember the evening?" Verses A.K. Tolstoy;
• "April" for translation from the French V. Tushnova;
• "Do not sing, beauty" on the poems of Alexander Pushkin;
• "River lily" on the words of A. Pleshnyov from G. Heine;
• "Spring waters" on verses F. Tyutchev;
• "Oh, do not be sad" for the words of A. Apukhtin;
• "They answered" the translation of the poems of Victor Hugo;
• "At night in the garden" to the words of Alexander Blok;
• "Ay" to the words of Balmont.

The most famous works of S. Rachmaninov

A great legacy left to the descendants of one of the greatest Russian composers - Rachmaninoff. The most famous works of Sergei Vasilyevich: these are his three operas, piano concerts, a rhapsody on the theme of Paganini, suite "Symphonic Dances", vocalise for voice accompanied by pianoforte, poem "Bells", romances.

The famous "Vocalise" is written for a tenor or soprano, but still more often it is played by the soprano owners. Vocalise is sung without words, on one (any) vowel sound. The work is also arranged for performance accompanied by an orchestra, for a choir with an orchestra, for an orchestra without a vocalist, for an instrumentalist soloist, there are many interpretations of this work.

The suite "Symphonic Dances" was written in emigration in 1940 and was the last work of Sergei Vasilyevich, he created it three years before his death. This music is all permeated with anxiety over the fate of the people, to which the Second World War fell.

Opera "Francesca da Rimini" - the plot of it is taken from the Divine Comedy Dante. The author of the libretto for this opera was MI Tchaikovsky.

The "Bells" poem

Perhaps the most famous work of Rachmaninov is the symphonic poem "Bells". It is written for three soloists (baritone, tenor, soprano), choir and symphony orchestra. The same poem by Edgar Po was the basis of this work. The poem consists of four parts different in character, which reveal the different stages of human life. Parts 1 and 2 (bridal chimes and bells) express serene happiness, parts 3 and 4 - this is the alarm, funeral ringing, which sounds tragic. In the first part of Allegro, a tenor solo; In the second part of Lento solo soprano - sounds a wedding ring, and the music tells of love; The third part of Presto is performed by the choir and orchestra - the alarm sounds, music expresses fear; In the fourth part the baritone soloises - here the funeral ringing sounds and music - is an expression of death. According to Rachmaninov himself, this is his work he loved more than others and it was he who created it especially enthusiastically.

Opera Aleko

Rachmaninov's operatic works are few in number. His very first opera, which he wrote as a student of the Conservatory, was Aleko, based on A. Pushkin's poem The Gypsies. It was the diploma work of the composer. The author of the libretto is VI Nemirovich-Danchenko. The premiere of the opera took place a year later at the Bolshoi Theater and was a great success. In great ecstasy from the opera was the great Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. According to the plot, the beautiful gypsy Zemfira betrays her husband Aleko with a young gypsy who fell in love. Aleko in anger kills the lover of Zemfira and herself. Gypsies do not reconcile with Aleko's cruel deed and leave, leaving him alone with his longing.

Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini

Sergei Rachmaninov's works for pianoforte and orchestra are also some of his most famous works. Rhapsody on the subject of Paganini is included in their number. The work is already written in emigration. It includes 24 variations on the theme of one of the most famous Caprices by Nicolo Paganini - Caprice No. 24. This is one of the most popular works of Rachmaninov to this day, it can be heard as a soundtrack to many foreign films.