Rachmaninoff's Etudes-Tableaux

[shatteringpulse]

I was wondering, in all of us playing through the Rachmaninoff etudes, what the true titles of all the pieces are that we found. Especially some of the more obscure ones that don't lend themselves too easily to a title...we all know the carnival, the morning, the stormy ocean, the seagulls, little red riding hood...but what images, or titles, do the other ones merit that Rachmaninoff would not unveil???

[Valour]

When the Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky made a recording of Rachmaninov's Etudes-Tableaux, he also submitted an essay describing some of the images which he -as an interpreter- associated with the works. He made numerous references to Russian and European literature and paintings. (There is a disclaimer at the end of the essay, of course.) The essay was printed in the CD-insert. However, some re-issues of the recording did not include the essay.

More information at:
https://Lugansky.homestead.com
and
https://www.challenge.nl

If you have any questions, you can either email me or respond to this message.

[zhiliang]

I hope you do not mind, just a side question on this topic... But which Etudes-Tableaux of Rachmaninoff is considered the...

1. most popular & greatest?
2. most romantic?
3. most lovely?
4. hardest technically?
5. most underrated?

And besides this short poll... How are these sets of etudes comparable to Rachmaninoff's preludes which i believe contains some of the most lush writings of this composer.

Regards,

Zhiliang

[steinwayguy]

I say we resurrect zhiliang's post!

1. I believe Op. 39 No. 5 would be it.
2/3. Op. 33 No. 7 perhaps?
4. I've heard Op. 39 No. 6
5. Op. 33 No. 4 methinks.

[paris]

i'm glad someone finally started thread about these great etudes 

i'm confused with markings in my edition  (AUTHENTIC EDITION by Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers)

i'm playing etude from op.33 E flat major.   in my edition is marked as op.33 n.7, but above is written VI.  (etude starts with thirds in both hand Eflat-G  in ff )
now i'm confused wheter i'm playing n.6  or n.7 ? 

[steinwayguy]

i'm glad someone finally started thread about these great etudes

i'm confused with markings in my edition (AUTHENTIC EDITION by Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers)

i'm playing etude from op.33 E flat major. in my edition is marked as op.33 n.7, but above is written VI. (etude starts with thirds in both hand Eflat-G in ff )
now i'm confused wheter i'm playing n.6 or n.7 ?

I've always figured that the E-flat is No. 6, G Minor is No. 7, D Minor is No. 4 and No. 5 is that really weird and crazy piece (I don't know which key). I can't remember exactly why there is confusion about that...

[jlh]

i'm glad someone finally started thread about these great etudes 

i'm confused with markings in my edition  (AUTHENTIC EDITION by Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers)

i'm playing etude from op.33 E flat major.   in my edition is marked as op.33 n.7, but above is written VI.  (etude starts with thirds in both hand Eflat-G  in ff )
now i'm confused wheter i'm playing n.6  or n.7 ? 

It's my understanding that Rachmaninoff took the original 33/4 out and put it in op. 39 (I don't know which one it is). That would explain the numbering of your edition since it seems you have an early edition.

A few questions:

Which etude in op. 39 was the original 33/4?
Were there any other changes in the ordering that Rachmaninoff made?

One reason I'm asking is because one of the etudes I'm working on from the Op. 33 set is the E-flat minor one.  I'm not sure which edition I have because it's a photocopy from my old piano teacher who has since past away.  It's marked at the top with a big "5" and the catalogue info to the right says Op. 33, No. 6 (No. 3).  So which is it?  Also, the page number on the first page is 20, so if you guys could look at your editions and see which one starts this etude on page 20 with this catalogue info, and then tell me which edition I have, that would be great! 

My other edition of these etudes is the Dover edition, and it lists this etude as Op. 33, No. 5.

I just downloaded the entire set of etudes-tableaux by Nikolai Lugansky from https://music.allofmp3.com/.  I must say that his performance of virtually all of them are the best I've ever heard! By the way, the etude I just asked about in the last paragraph is marked Op. 33, No. 6 in Lugansky's recording.  I'm confused.  Does it really matter?

Someone made a post on this thread about an essay that Lugansky wrote and included in the original CD's of these etudes.  Does anyone know where I might go online to read it?  I'm preparing about 5 of these etudes for a recital next semester and I would love to read his article for research purposes. 

Thanks!
Josh

[brewtality]

I know he took out an Etude Tableaux and used it in the fourth concerto. Not sure if it is op 33/4- can't remember what that sounds like off the top of my head.

[nanabush]

The little red riding hood etude, op 39 #6 used to be in the op 33 set... he removed it later... so if we're going by the version that had the etude removed, it goes 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9

[soliloquy]

Favs are 33-8 "Grave" in C#- and 39-5 "Appassionata"

[verywellmister]

1. most popular & greatest? 39/5
2. most romantic? 33-8
3. most lovely? 39/9-wow!
4. hardest technically?-39/6

[jlh]

The little red riding hood etude, op 39 #6 used to be in the op 33 set... he removed it later... so if we're going by the version that had the etude removed, it goes 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9

Thanks- that's exactly what I wanted to know.   Is that the only thing that happened to the numbers?  I mean, any idea what the catalog info on my edition of the eminor etude means? 

Halfway there... any idea what my mystery score edition is?

[houseofblackleaves]

Op. 33 no.4 is now Op.39 no.6. (Orchistrated name: Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf)

Actually, etudes op. 33 nos 3,4,and 5 were never meant to be published.  3 and 5 were stuck in where the publishers thought they would be chronologically, and the 4th was edited and put in op. 39.

I've studied these etudes hard, and I've found that:

Most random, therefore somtimes difficult etude: 33/6
The most insane, demanding, intense etude: 39/6
The most beautuful, harmonic, sorrowful etudes: 33/7, 39/8
The breathtaking etude: 39/1
The biggest explosion of passion: 39/5

I'm using numbering from here, so check out the recordings:
https://classic.chubrik.ru/Rachmaninov/Etudes_Ashk.html

[mike_lang]

May I ask - I've always been curious - what is that that these are etudes are studies in?

Best,
ML

[nanabush]

I've looked through several of these etudes, but havn't played a whole lot... some of them have a very distinct technique while some I'd say you'd only be able to tell after have finished playing it.  op 39 #5 has double notes, and at one point has double notes in one hand while the same hand simultaneously plays a melody on top.  #6 has very fast running passages, and the hands cross over, and there's big leaps.  #7 has very awkward hand positions mainly for the right hand, while the left hand typically plays chords or octaves.  The others in this set I'm not too sure; I have played #8 but havn't really found a technical study in it, mostly just for musicality.  Op 39 #1 has running passages in the right hand, double notes, leaps in the left hand, pretty much a combination of nearly every technique... #3 is very awkward double notes, and has running notes in both hands.  #6 has some repeated notes, massive leaps, and awkward motifs in the right hand at a very fast speed.  #8 has double notes and leaps in the left hand, and #9 also has double notes, awkward fingerings, and leaps.... the other I'm not too sure.....

That was my vague interpretation of the techniques in most of the etudes..... may not be 100% on, but it's an idea.



 

[candysinyee]

How to get this free music sheet?Im just silver member...