Rachmaninoff Piano/Cello Sonata op. 19

[Motrax]

I recently got a recording of Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor op. 19, and decided I absolutely have to play the piece. Unfortunately, I only have about five months before the performance where I wish to play the sonata.

I would like to know which movement is the easiest to learn in such a short amount of time, since I seriously doubt I can learn the whole thing in just 5 months (I'm a high school student, and I work part time at a research institution, among other things). I ordered the music a while ago, but it's certainly taking its fine, slow time arriving here...

Also, would any of you happen to know how difficult the cello part is to play? I still need to find a cellist.

And, just out of curiosity, if you know the pieces, what do you like more: this cello sonata, or either of Brahms' Cello/Piano sonatas?

[schnabels_grandson]

I haven't been able to buy the score yet, but I've seen it and the 3rd movement looks the easiest.  I am unexperienced with playing this piece but I know the Brahms quite well.  The Rachmaninoff seems to be higher quality than either of the Brahms.  The Brahms is fun to play but it just doesn't have the depth that the Rachmaninoff does.

[thracozaag]

I recently got a recording of Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor op. 19, and decided I absolutely have to play the piece. Unfortunately, I only have about five months before the performance where I wish to play the sonata.

I would like to know which movement is the easiest to learn in such a short amount of time, since I seriously doubt I can learn the whole thing in just 5 months (I'm a high school student, and I work part time at a research institution, among other things). I ordered the music a while ago, but it's certainly taking its fine, slow time arriving here...

Also, would any of you happen to know how difficult the cello part is to play? I still need to find a cellist.

And, just out of curiosity, if you know the pieces, what do you like more: this cello sonata, or either of Brahms' Cello/Piano sonatas?

The slow movement (3rd) is quite easy.  The cello part (unlike the piano part) in all the movements should'nt pose much of a problem for any decent cellist.

[eddie92099]

What a great piece! I hope you have big hands ,
Ed

[xtopher]

Hi.
i Think the 3rd or 2nd movement are the easiest and about the cello. i asked a partner from my chamber group who obviously plays the cello (she has been playing cello for 3 years) and she told me that it isn´t difficult. So you just have to be careful to find a nice cellist to play with u.
Xtopher**

[Motrax]

Thanks a whole bunch for everybody's input. I thankfully found a cellist who's been playing for nine years, so I certainly hope she'll do a good job with the cello part.

My hands aren't very big, but I've had a reasonable deal of experience with Rachmaninoff. It seems like it'll be a big undertaking for me nonetheless, but I just love the piece too much not to play it.  

[xtopher]

your welcome

[Roberto]

I performed  this cellosonata of Rachmaninoff several times in concert in combination with the sonata of Schostakovitch.
Rachmaninoff composed this sonata op 19 after his second pianoconcerto op 18 to show that he could write something even more difficult than the piece he wrote before. I also worked his concerto's 1,2 and 3 and I think that his cellosonata is very very difficult! The celloscore is almost like a basso continuo and is easy to play (so several cellopayers told me...;~))
The Brahmssonatas are technically much easyer but the interpretation of them is more complicated...:~((
5 months to work this Rachmaninoffsonata is not enough...you need 1 year to know that piece...
If you need good "doigté" let me know!
Good luck! roberto

[liszmaninopin]

Are there any pdf files online of the score?