Disk Number Three

I love Rachmaninov, I know that that’s not a very trendy statement these days, and many of the musical literati will turn their noses up at Rachmaninov, he is accused of being overly sentimental, derivative and shallow. Well I say you can’t beat a good tune, and Rachmaninov had a melodic gift and an opulent lyricism second to none. On the way home from dropping a friend off at Paddington Station I was listening to Classic FM and heard the second movement of the second Piano Concerto, this is currently top of their “Hall of Fame” so it goes without saying that this is a very popular work. I am of the opinion that if something is popular there is a good reason, it’s often because it’s good.

I did think about including the second piano concerto, and the first and indeed the fourth, but I finally decided on the Paganini Rhapsody, or the “Rag Pag” Although the theme is Paganini’s the orchestration and lyricism is all Rachmaninov. The piece builds through a series of variations until getting to the final Polka section, it is all very lush and romantic, we even have a couple of statements of the ‘Dies Irae’ before ending quietly with a little self mocking flourish.

I can’t remember when I first came across this work, but I do remember sitting in Monk’s Hill junior school for Sunday after Sunday as CYPO rehearsed it prior to one of our Fairfield Halls concerts. The work we put in then means that whenever it comes up now, I know that I can play all the notes so I can concentrate fully on playing the music.

I just hope that the music police realise soon that Rachmaninov is one of the greats and that he is rehabilitated into our concert programmes, great music to listen too, and great fun to play