Rachmaninoff Sonata No.2 (Ashkenazy)

[asuhayda]

Hi All,

So, it's a known fact that Rachmaninoff wrote a few different versions of this Sonata.. He felt that the first one was too hard (I guess). So, he modified the second version to be slightly less impossible.

Anyway,  people like Horowitz combined the newer version with the older version to get a pretty cool hybrid.  Vladimir Ashkenazy recorded my favorite version of this piece.  It's a spin off of Horowitz's version.  I was hoping that he just played Horowitz's version (but I know it's not, because I've got that music and it's not the same).

I was wondering if ANYBODY knows where I can get my hands on a copy of Ashkenzy's version of this Sonata?  It is one of the most beautiful pieces I've ever heard, and I'd at least like to play the second movement.

The recording I'm talking about is from "Rachmaninov 24 Preludes Sonata No.2 Vladimir Ashkenazy" Decca

Tracks are the final 3 - Piano Sonata in B flat minor, Op. 36 Original Version (1913)  <-- that's what they say... but it's not because I've seen the original version and it's not the same either.  It's definitely close to the Original version, but with some differences.. especially in the 2nd movement.

Thanks for your help. This could be an interesting challenge.  If it even exists...

Adam

[scherzo123]

Buy it. Or maybe go on verycd.com and download it?

[davidjosepha]

Buy it. Or maybe go on verycd.com and download it?

He's looking for the sheet music, not the recording. I presume he already has the recording, since he's interested in playing the same version used in the recording.

[49410enrique]

Do we know if it was ever published? That is, is there confirmation of anyone other than Ashkenazy himself ever performing this version? If not, it may be a privately held arrangement that he never released perhaps? I know it's not what you want to hear but it's a question that should be asked about somethign this rare/elusive.

If it ever saw the light of day out of his hands, I would be surprised if some conservatory somewhere didn't have it in archives. If so, then inter library lending services might help or you may be able to write to the archive department directly and request a copy of it if it happens to be on permanent reserve. This is all assuming someone doesnt actually offer the score for sale, if so, things become considerably less complicated.

[asuhayda]

I believe I have found it!  It was on imslp.org of course...  The funny thing is, I've checked this site before for this piece and it was not there (this particular arrangement). I guess they updated their collection.  I've followed through the music to the recording and it seems to be very consistent to the original 1913 version of the piece (which is the one that I downloaded).

Did I mention that it's HAAAAAAARD!!!? It will be a long time before I'm playing this piece well. And I've got a dozen others in my queue that I'm working on right now.

Thanks for your suggestions in finding this piece.