Sources of known fingerings for Rachmaninoff

[joe891212]

I have been studying Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2.  I was wondering if anyone knows of any written sources providing fingering for the more difficult passages in this concerto.  I would be interested if Rachmaninoff himself provided any clues to how he executed some of the more challenging passages. 

Still searching for other pianists' fingerings. I know you should use what is comfortable for yourself, but sometimes others execute passages in ways you may not have considered.  I remember sending an email to a concert pianist who I had watch from a side stage balcony perform Beathoven's First Piano Concerto.  In that email I mentioned the fingering I used for a very difficult passage and he told me he had never considered what I had done and he thought it was quite original and simplified the entire effort.  So, it pays to watch what others do...

I am particularly interested in fingering for Rach #2...

Thank you, Joe

[blazekenny]

I have been studying Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2.  I was wondering if anyone knows of any written sources providing fingering for the more difficult passages in this concerto.  I would be interested if Rachmaninoff himself provided any clues to how he executed some of the more challenging passages.  

Still searching for other pianists' fingerings. I know you should use what is comfortable for yourself, but sometimes others execute passages in ways you may not have considered.  I remember sending an email to a concert pianist who I had watch from a side stage balcony perform Beathoven's First Piano Concerto.  In that email I mentioned the fingering I used for a very difficult passage and he told me he had never considered what I had done and he thought it was quite original and simplified the entire effort.  So, it pays to watch what others do...

I am particularly interested in fingering for Rach #2...

Thank you, Joe

For the last time on this forum....->
For god sake, you shouldnt use what you are most comfortable with. You should use what sounds the best

[joe891212]

Thank you for your reply.  I have always been told to execute with fingerings that are comfortable for your hands; otherwise you will not be able to produce the kind of sound you want.   

Everyone is undoubtedly aware of the size of Rachmaninoff's hands.   I saw Stephen Hough execute the opening chordal sequence of the first movement and he used his right hand to play the lower "bell toll notes."  It was striking and the sound very different than using the left hand.  I emulated what he did and it did change the sound produced.

I never saw Rachmaninoff's hands, but I did see Van Cliburn's.  His hands were probably twice my hand size.  Kissin's hands are very large also.  Obviously, what fingerings worked for them necessarily would not work for many others.  Knowing what are "comfortable" fingerings especially for the more difficult passages helps enormously execute what often will in the end sound the best. 

I have obtained some fingers from several known concert artists (Thank you for your generosity in sharing such information.  One sent me a copy of his Russian version of the Concerto along with printed fingerings and another one helped me produce better phrasing in several sections of the concerto.  I am still discovering different fingerings for two sections that are particularly difficult when attempting to bring out a melody.

So for everyone else who struggles with fingerings, do not shrink from asking for help from others and don't let anyone else deter you from asking the question.  It's always a good question.

[ajspiano]

Thank you for your reply.  I have always been told to execute with fingerings that are comfortable for your hands; otherwise you will not be able to produce the kind of sound you want.   

Yes, but..

There may be multiple comfortable fingerings depending on the way you execute a passage so far as the touch/arm motions/pedal..  but they will sound different. So you need to know what sound you intend to create and choose a fingering - (and general execution) - that is going to produce that comfortably.

Sound first..  not comfort first. You can't choose an execution and then expect it to sound a certain way.. you need to choose a sound and then choose the appropriate execution for your sound.

[jurga]

I have some difficulties with fingerings for Rachmaninoff 2nd concerto, may I ask you for your help? please?