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Piano Board => Repertoire => Topic started by: owen212 on November 28, 2020, 08:26:07 AM

Title: Difficulty of Rachmaninoff's 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
Post by: owen212 on November 28, 2020, 08:26:07 AM

Hello!
Recently, I've started listening to Rachmaninoff's 6 Moments Musicaux and I've quickly fallen in love with them. I would love to learn these pieces. If anyone has played or has an idea of the pieces in the set, could you answer these questions: Which pieces should I avoid?  Is No. 6 as difficult as it sounds, or does it just appear to be difficult? Which one is most difficult musically? Should I further familiarize myself with Rachmaninoff's style or is this a good place to start? What is the most difficult aspect of every piece? How would you rank these in technical difficulty?
Thank you.  :)

Title: Re: Difficulty of Rachmaninoff's 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
Post by: rachmaninoff_forever on December 17, 2020, 05:27:55 PM

I’ve played all 6.  All of them together in one sitting is pretty gnarly but separately they’re not too bad cause they’re all pretty short pieces.  3 is the easiest and 4 is the hardest.  6 isn’t that bad it fits in the hands pretty comfortably you just put your fingers in the right place and wiggle a bit lol

Title: Re: Difficulty of Rachmaninoff's 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
Post by: owen212 on January 07, 2021, 06:15:22 AM

I see, thank you!

Title: Re: Difficulty of Rachmaninoff's 6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
Post by: anacrusis on January 26, 2021, 10:16:57 PM

Well, I think the fast ones are pretty difficult! At least for me, the Revolutionary Etude by Chopin feels easier than no 4. Though it should be said I have practised the Revolutionary Etude more.  ;D

Musically a challenge with many of them is to keep everything in clearly defined separate layers, else everything blends together and becomes a mess. I feel even some professional recordings seem to forget this.