Not sure where exactly to put this post but here it is: I'm looking to play Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini but it is 25 minutes long. Is there any way to make orchestral cuts to shorten it to around 15 (preferbly) or 20 minutes?Thanks.
Hello, I'm currently working on an arrangement of that piece that will be 40 measures long. I'm not sure how long that will be in minutes, but when I finish I will try to send you a copy.
Might I suggest that if you really have to do this -- as has been said, cutting it is problematic to say the least, from the musical standpoint -- you select particular variations from it which you like, and arrange them more or less intact? It has somewhat the form of a theme and variations, after all, and the best way to hack that sort of piece up is to select entire variations from the whole thing.I would also note that to do the music justice, it's going to be a real virtuoso piece. Nothing easy about it.
The 18th variation alone is this approx 40 measures. Are you really discussing making the entire concerto 40 measures ?
Is there any way to make orchestral cuts to shorten it to around 15 (preferbly) or 20 minutes?