Classical Music For Dummies, 3rd Edition
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No one can deny that Rachmaninoff was a significant influence to classical music. Although he lived until 1943, Sergei Rachmaninoff (“rock-MAHN-i-noff”; 1873–1943) was a true Russian Romantic. He grew up in St. Petersburg and studied at the conservatory there, absorbing everything that the great Russian masters such as Tchaikovsky and the Mighty Fistful had to offer. (At his graduation, Tchaikovsky gave him the highest mark anyone had ever seen: the equivalent of “A++++.”)

Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Russian piano master. [Credit: <i>Source: Creative Commons</i>]
Credit: Source: Creative Commons
Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Russian piano master.

When Rachmaninoff moved to the United States around the time of the Russian Revolution, he brought the spirit of his country with him. Beneath his cold, forbidding appearance lurked one of the warmer hearts in the business. (Don’t be put off by the fact that his works are almost all in a minor key or that they have such titles as Isle of the Dead.) Keep reading for more facts about Rachmaninoff.

Sergei gets hypnotized

Early in his career, Rachmaninoff went through a long period of “composer’s block.” After the disastrous premiere of his Symphony no. 1, Rachmaninoff suffered a serious nervous breakdown, lost his inspiration, and couldn’t compose another note. Only after he visited a hypnotist could he get past his block.

After his recovery, Rachmaninoff’s next creation was the Second Piano Concerto — by far his most popular piece. He dedicated the piece to his hypnotist.

Sergei was a phenomenal pianist, and he wrote many of his famous compositions (such as that piano concerto) for himself to play for a particular occasion. Today, he’s best known for those piano pieces — and for his nicknames.

Musicians refer to him as “Rocky”; his Second Piano Concerto is called “Rocky 2”; and his demonically difficult Piano Concerto no. 3 — the one that gave pianist David Helfgott a nervous breakdown, as dramatized in the 1996 movie Shine — is known as “the Rach 3,” or just “Rocky 3.”

Rocky on recording

Here are the pieces of Rachmaninoff that you should hear first. For orchestral forces, try these:

  • Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, opus 18

  • Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, opus 30

  • Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, opus 43

  • Symphony no. 2 in E minor, opus 27

And for piano solos, give these a listen:

  • Prelude in C-sharp minor, opus 3, no. 2

  • Prelude in D major, opus 23, no. 4

  • Piano Sonata no. 2 in B-flat minor, opus 36

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About David Pogue David Pogue is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and has performed magic at parties, special events, on TV, and even over the radio for 25 years. He created and taught the beginning magic programs at the New School for Social Research and the Learning Annex. He has been known to mesmerize audiences with his magic tricks while on tour promoting his many bestselling books, including Macs?? For Dummies??, 5th Edition, Opera For Dummies??, and Classical Music For Dummies??. Contributor Mark Levy, magic consultant, has levitated and read spectators' minds for nearly 30 years. His writings have appeared in some of magic's most revered literary sources, including Richard Kaufman's CardMagic, Apocalypse magazine, and Magic.

Scott Speck has conducted hundreds of ballet performances throughout the United States and Europe. He is Music Director of the Joffrey Ballet, Artistic Director of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, and former Conductor of the San Francisco Ballet. Evelyn Cisneros danced for the San Francisco Ballet for 23 years and is the Artistic Director of the National Dance Institute of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

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