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Topic: Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, which is most difficult to least? (Read 9866 times)

arvhaax93

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Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, which is most difficult to least?

on: July 05, 2010, 12:05:27 AM

..in ranking order?

I know it can vary depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the pianist, but a general order would be appreciated.
PS: I am well aware that Rachmaninoff's 3rd is the most difficult, but i'd still like to know the ranking of difficulty of his other 3 concerti

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Currently Learning:
Mozart Sonata in D Major K. 284
Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 1 "Aeolian Harp"
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 1 in F# minor, Op. 1

birba

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Re: Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, what is the order of them ranking

Reply #1 on: July 05, 2010, 04:32:35 PM

2,1,4,3.

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pianist1976

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Re: Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, which is most difficult to least?

Reply #2 on: July 07, 2010, 06:46:05 AM

I played the second almost 10 years ago for my graduation concert (accompanied by a second piano, I wasn't lucky to play with conservatoire orchestra

) and that was a really exhausting experience. Rachmaninoff was a first class virtuoso and that concerto is one of the most uncomfortable works I've never played. I also started the third concerto but never completed it, too much dense, too large and maybe too extreme virtuosistic, too restless (45 minutes of jumps, huge chords, double notes, OMG!) for my skills (and patience). I have also the scores of the other two but I have not even read the score at the piano but at sight (without playing it, only viewing the score) both looks also terribly difficult. Maybe the first one has a more conventional writing but that doesn't mean it has to be easier...

So, in brief and IMHO, I cannot order them. I think that every one of them is a top piece in the repertoire, incredibly difficult to play and has its own different but always challenging difficulties.

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weissenberg2

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Re: Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, which is most difficult to least?

Reply #3 on: July 08, 2010, 05:03:55 PM

hardest to easiest: 3,2,1,4

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11ngerman

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Re: Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, which is most difficult to least?

Reply #4 on: February 01, 2011, 09:46:38 PM

3-2-1-4
the third is one of the hardest concertos!

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lisztrachmaninovfan

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Re: Of the four concerti written by Rachmaninoff, which is most difficult to least?

Reply #5 on: January 16, 2013, 07:49:48 PM

Quote from: weissenberg2 on July 08, 2010, 05:03:55 PM

hardest to easiest: 3,2,1,4

You guys seriously think that the 4th is easiest? Have you guys heard/seen the sheet of music of the last movement?

It seems a lot easier if you just hear a recording, but it's a LOT more difficult if you've actually tried playing it yourself. It's also quite strenuous and requires a lot of practice (tons of uncomfortable passage-work, esp. in the outer movements). But I do agree that the 3rd concerto is the hardest:

3, 4, 2, 1

His 2nd concerto seems hard at first, but it's really just a lot of finger/scale work. If you have a solid technique, this work shouldn't be extremely difficult for you.

Though getting through any of these concertos in one sitting is a whole-nother issue...

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Currently working on:
*Prelude, Op.23 N.4 (Rachmaninoff)
*Prelude & Fugue in F major, WTC II (Bach)
...not fully decided on what else to start (most likely will be a Liszt, Schubert, or Medtner)...

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