"Rachmaninoff: Composer, Pianist, Conductor "

Rachmaninoff was not only an important composer and one of the very greatest pianists of his time but also, for a period at least, his country's most notable conductor. This study considers all three careers in detail. Barrie Martyn examines each of Rachmaninoff's works in chronological order, analyses his remarkable style of playing and surveys his activities as a conductor. There are extensive references to Russian sources and the first appearance of a complete. Rachmaninoff discography is included. This book is the only comprehensive study in any language of the three aspects of Rachmaninoff's musical career. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Dedication......Page 3 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 6 List of plates......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 Part I Rachmaninoff the Composer......Page 18 1 Rachmaninoff and Russian Musical History......Page 20 Chronological Summary of Rachmaninoff's Principal Compositions......Page 36 2 Rachmaninoff's Composing Career and Musical Style......Page 39 3 Student Years, 1886-1892......Page 52 4 Free Artist, 1892-1897......Page 84 5 Moscow, 1897-1906......Page 142 6 Dresden, 1906-1909......Page 204 7 Ivanovka, 1909-1917......Page 234 8 New World, 1917-1943......Page 324 Part II Rachmaninoff the Pianist......Page 392 9 Rachmaninoff's Career as a Pianist......Page 395 10 Concert Statistics......Page 420 11 Rachmaninoff's Art as a Pianist......Page 429 12 Piano Repertoire......Page 457 13 Rachmaninoff and the Gramophone......Page 480 14 Discography......Page 492 15 Rachmaninoff and the Reproducing Piano......Page 539 Part Ill Rachmaninoff the Conductor......Page 548 16 Rachmaninoff's Career as a Conductor......Page 550 17 Conducting Repertoire......Page 567 18 Chronological List of Performances......Page 573 Notes......Page 604 Index of Rachmaninoff's Works......Page 606 Index of Persons and of Works Referred to in the Text......Page 613 Cover Page -- Halftitle -- Dedication -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of plates -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Part I Rachmaninoff the Composer -- 1 Rachmaninoff and Russian Musical History -- Chronological Summary of Rachmaninoff's Principal Compositions -- 2 Rachmaninoff's Composing Career and Musical Style -- 3 Student Years, 1886-1892 -- 4 Free Artist, 1892-1897 -- 5 Moscow, 1897-1906 -- 6 Dresden, 1906-1909 -- 7 Ivanovka, 1909-1917 -- 8 New World, 1917-1943 -- Part II Rachmaninoff the Pianist -- 9 Rachmaninoff's Career as a Pianist -- 10 Concert Statistics -- 11 Rachmaninoff's Art as a Pianist -- 12 Piano Repertoire -- 13 Rachmaninoff and the Gramophone -- 14 Discography -- 15 Rachmaninoff and the Reproducing Piano -- Part III Rachmaninoff the Conductor -- 16 Rachmaninoff's Career as a Conductor -- 17 Conducting Repertoire -- 18 Chronological List of Performances -- Notes -- Index of Rachmaninoff's Works -- Index of Persons and of Works Referred to in the Text This study is the first to consider all three of Rachmaninoff's careers in detail. After surveying his place in Russian musical history and his creative activity, the author examines, with musical examples, each working chronological order against the background of the composer's life. Among the the many subjects upon which new light is shed are the operas, the songs, and the religious music. Rachmaninoff's remarkable career as a pianist, his style of playing and repertoire are analysed along with his historically important contribution to the gramophone and his work for the reproducing piano. The book includes a survey of his activity as a conductor. There are extensive references to Russian sources and the first appearance of a complete Rachmaninoff disconography is included. This book is the only comprehensive study in any language of the three aspects of Rachmaninoff's musical career and is a stimulating read for music lovers everywhere.