Rach op. 39 #1

[liszmaninopin]

I was just playing through this piece again (Rach op. 39 #1), and once again I was impressed by how great it is.  Actually, IMO, it's one of the greatest and most musical etudes ever written, the powerful, agitated opening with drama, that lovely middle section, then the notes that are quick and staccato like, almost like a little scherzo, then an absolutely massive finale.

It's also one of Rach's most difficult short pieces.

Does anybody else here feel as highly as I do about this etude?

[larse]

I really think the Etudes-Tableaux are all great. I've never played any of them. Actually, Rachmaninov has'nt been on the repertoire since Op. 23 No 5. That's (gosh) 5 years ago. wow.. Guess it's about time.

Does anyone know where to get the notes for the etudes-tableaux by Rachmaninov? Pherhaps specifically Op 39 No 1, but hopefully all of them..

[liszmaninopin]

well, you can buy a book off the internet.  I own the Dover edition of Rach's complete preludes and etudes, and it's held up very well (especially considering how hard I use it!)

I think that sheetmusicarchive.net has alot of the rach etudes in pdf format.

[Medtner]

Liszmaninopin,

I'm wondering what your Dover edition has in it, I've never seen it but I'm aware of the fact of different publications of these etudes-tableaux. Some publishers publish what Rachmaninov wanted published during his lifetime, meaning of the total 17 Etudes, I think there are only 15 published. A rework and ordering of the etudes posthumously includes 2 other etudes (very beautiful in fact if you try them).

So, originally Opus 33 was advertised in 1914 as:
1 in f
2 in C
3 in c
4 in a (went to 6 of Opus 39)
5 in d
6 in eb
7 in Eb
8 in g
9 in c#,
but 3, 4, and 5 were pulled from publication.
Now, with 3 and 5 published posthumously (they were discovered in 1947 in Russia), there are 8 etudes in opus 33. And 9 in opus 39.

Now, back to that first etude. Yes, I play it too, and I share the same feelings as you do about it. I also play number 5, and I like it better than number 1, sorry. More lyrical, and the climax is even greater (sometimes I get carried away and the piano feels like it's going to fall apart). I also enjoy sight-reading through 2, 3, and 4 from time to time, but I would like to seriously learn 6 and 8 of opus 39 later this year.

Number 6 is quite amazing. You can see a video of Val Lisitsa playing at it at this address:

https://www.valentinalisitsa.com/valhome.html
or directly click this link:
https://www.valentinalisitsa.com/rachet.wmv

She's "electrifying"!